Opinion | The ‘Disgraceful Display’ in the Oval Office

To the Editor:

Re “Trump and Vance Scold Zelensky in Blowup” (front page, March 1):

What a disgusting and disgraceful display in the Oval Office by the president and his sycophantic vice president regarding their treatment of the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky.

This is the same President Trump who has repeatedly exhibited unconscionable and unjustified deference toward two of the most despicable, evil dictators: Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un.

As an American, I am appalled, ashamed and embarrassed for our country that a heroic world leader such as Mr. Zelensky, valiantly leading his people under the most harrowing of circumstances, would find himself subjected to such abuse and disrespect in such a high-profile setting.

One can only imagine how Mr. Trump conducts himself, particularly during high-level international diplomatic negotiations, when he is not on camera and the world isn’t watching.

Mark Godes
Chelsea, Mass.

To the Editor:

Yes, Ukraine should express gratitude to the United States for our financial support — and Ukraine has consistently expressed it, as reflected in countless public statements.

By the same token, the United States should be expressing gratitude to Ukraine. It is Ukraine, more than any other nation, that has stepped up and paid a far higher and ultimate price for freedom and democracy.

Our contribution was paid for with dollars. Ukraine’s contribution was paid for with tens of thousands of precious lives.

William August
Cambridge, Mass.

To the Editor:

I stand with many Americans who are shocked and embarrassed at the contemptuous behavior of the president in his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine.

This is no way to treat any foreign guest, especially one who is (or was) our ally at war with an enemy state that has a history of alleged war crimes and murders of political opponents.

President Zelensky has demonstrated courage and determination not to back down and retreat from Russia’s bullying. It grieves all of us that now he must suffer the same brutal gangland-style threats from President Trump. There is no excuse for his “tough guy” pandering for the cameras and belittling of a true hero of democracy.

If there is ever to be another meeting between these two, it should happen in Ukraine. Then Mr. Trump could witness that bravery has nothing to do with real estate deals or winning hands in cards. Unfortunately, it would probably do nothing to improve his obnoxious behavior.

Pamela Hunt
Hewitt, Texas

To the Editor:

We the people can take no more of this embarrassing, cruel and dangerous “administration.” Congress, do something! Republicans, stop hiding behind this bully!

And President Zelensky, you are truly a brave and honorable leader for your people. Know that the American people stand with you even as our “leaders” have no spine.

Erika Tarlin
Malden, Mass.

To the Editor:

I keep thinking of all the American leaders, including Republicans, who repeatedly vowed that we would support Ukraine until the war was over. You are only as good as your word. It will be a long time and take a lot of work before anyone trusts the United States again.

Lori Schack
Portland, Ore.

To the Editor:

I grew up in a Bronx schoolyard, so I know bullies when I see them — and Donald Trump and JD Vance are among the worst. A new low even for a schoolyard.

Andrew Gold
New York

Trump’s Lies

To the Editor:

Re “Key to Trump’s Success: Knack for Habitual Lying” (news analysis, front page, Feb. 23):

The decline of the American presidency is tragically dramatized in the contrast between Jimmy Carter’s promise never to lie to us and Donald Trump’s strategy of habitually lying to us.

William P. Murphy
Tucson, Ariz.

To the Editor:

There’s an easy tell that readily gives away whenever Donald Trump veers from the truth — either his lips or his thumbs are moving.

Mr. Trump’s reply to an objection about a statement that isn’t true — “but it sounds good” — is his own admission of something I’ve long contended: He doesn’t care a whit about fact or fiction. He sees words merely as tools that serve one simple purpose: Do they get the job done? In other words, which words will get him what he wants? Because that’s all that matters to him.

I find that I am surprised when Mr. Trump actually speaks an unvarnished truth. In those rare instances, he reminds me of a stopped clock, which is still right twice a day.

John F. Heenehan
Madison, N.J.

Grant Money for Lab Scientists

To the Editor:

Re “Trump Administration Stalls Funding for Medical Research Despite Court Ruling” (news article, Feb. 23), about delayed funding from the National Institutes of Health:

As an N.I.H.-funded researcher and a faculty member at Washington University in St. Louis, I wanted to add further context about how grant money is spent.

When I was a student, I assumed that most grant money was spent on equipment and supplies. But actually in my neuroscience lab, most of the budget, about 80 percent, goes to salaries of the people who work in the lab. That’s because ​salaries of skilled, highly trained scientists carrying out experiments and analysis are the main costs of research.

Universities invest in lab space and equipment so we can start our labs, but N.I.H. grant funding lets us hire scientists so we can carry out our research. If N.I.H. funding is left to wither on the vine because of these administrative shenanigans, many scientists will be left unemployed.

To the Editor:

Thank you for “Facts, Fiction, Cartoons: A Long-Running Buffet” (Sunday Styles, March 2), about the 100th-anniversary party for The New Yorker.

I first discovered the magazine in the early 1960s, when I was 12 or 13 and growing up in Manhattan. Upon reading my first issue, I felt that I had discovered writing I wanted to read.

In 1979, as a writer who submitted the first short story I ever wrote to the magazine, I was over the moon to receive an encouraging handwritten note on the typed rejection letter on ivory paper. (I did try again, half a dozen times. The stories were eventually published, but not by The New Yorker.)

The magazine sets and meets a high bar in almost everything it prints: fiction, nonfiction, reviews and cartoons. One doesn’t even have to be a New Yorker to love The New Yorker.

There are times when all I want is to curl up on the sofa with the latest issue or a few issues from a while back, a cup of coffee or hot chocolate near my elbow, and be wowed, informed, captivated and made to laugh.

May The New Yorker continue forward for another 100 years, changing only for the better.

Ann Calandro
Flemington, N.J.