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Written & Prompted by Justin Bailey

My Inspiration

I was left flabbergasted after watching the dialogue between President Trump and President Zelensky in the Oval Office. In the wake of it, I had some conversations with family members, and we were landing in very different places. I wanted to see how Grok, personifying Donald Trump and Jesus would parse it all out in a good old fashioned back and forth. So, I asked Grok to mock a debate for me…

The Conversation

My Initial Prompt to Grok:

I want you to mock a debate between Jesus and Trump on the whole Ukraine / Zelensky situation. The question of the debate is: Who was at fault for the breakdown in communication during the February 28, 2025 meeting in the Oval Office between the US and Ukraine leaders? Analyze after the debate and declare a winner.

Grok Responds:

Alright, let’s dive into the cosmic debate arena with Jesus and Trump facing off.

The question is: Who was at fault for the breakdown in communication during the February 28, 2025 meeting in the Oval Office between the US and Ukraine leaders? Picture the scene: golden podiums gleaming under celestial lights, Zelensky nervously adjusting his hoodie in the audience, and a divine moderator keeping time. Here’s the long-form showdown.

Moderator:

Welcome back to this extraordinary debate! Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, and Donald J. Trump, 45th President and dealmaking maestro, are here to tackle a fresh question: Who was at fault for the breakdown in communication during the February 28, 2025 Oval Office meeting between US and Ukrainian leaders? Jesus, you’ve got the opening word.

Jesus:

Peace be with you all. That meeting—a shouting match in a place meant for wisdom—was a failure of the heart. I see two leaders, Donald and Volodymyr, each bearing fault. Donald, your voice thundered with pride, not patience, drowning out understanding. You demanded gratitude when you should’ve offered it—did I not say, “Give, and it will be given to you”? Zelensky, hardened by war, spoke with defiance instead of humility, turning a chance for unity into strife. Both forgot my words: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” The fault lies in their shared refusal to listen, to bend, to seek the good in the other. A shepherd doesn’t strike his flock—he guides them.

Trump:

Okay, Jesus, love the meek stuff, beautiful, really tremendous, but let’s get real—this was Zelensky’s fault, 100%. I’m the best communicator, folks, nobody does it better. I welcomed him to the Oval Office—my office, sacred, terrific place—praised Ukraine, said nice things, which I didn’t have to do. Then he gets snarky, talks back, disrespects me in front of cameras! I mean, I’m trying to broker peace—24 hours, I could’ve ended that war—and he’s whining about Putin. JD Vance, great guy, my VP, calls him out, and Zelensky doubles down! I don’t yell unless I’m provoked, okay? He overplayed his hand, gambled with World War III, and tanked the minerals deal. Total fiasco—his fault, not mine. I’m the peacemaker here, believe me.

Jesus:

Donald, you speak of peace, yet your words in that room were a whip, not a balm. I watched—yes, I see all things—and you opened with flattery, true, but it turned to wrath when challenged. “You’re not in a good position,” you said, “You’re gambling with World War III.” Did that build a bridge? No, it burned one. Zelensky’s sharpness was unwise, but your response fanned the flames. I taught, “If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn the other”—not shout them down. Fault isn’t one-sided here; it’s a mirror. You both chose pride over peace. Look to the beam in your own eye before the speck in his.

Trump:

With all due respect, Jesus—and I respect you, huge fan, Easter’s fantastic—you weren’t there, okay? I was. Zelensky comes in, no suit, just that hoodie—disrespectful right off the bat. I’m negotiating with Putin, great guy, tough guy, and Zelensky’s acting like he’s the boss! I said, “You’re buried, you’ve got no cards,” because it’s true—he needs me more than I need him. I could’ve signed that deal, rare earth minerals, billions, amazing stuff, but he blew it. I don’t turn cheeks when someone’s trashing America’s honor. He left, I stayed cool—watch the tape, folks, great television. His fault, end of story.

Jesus:

The tape speaks, Donald, and it shows a storm of voices, not coolness. Zelensky bore wounds—war’s weight, a nation’s cries—and sought your ear, not your scorn. Yes, his tongue was sharp, asking Vance if he’d seen Ukraine’s pain, but you leapt in, “Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel.” Where was the still, small voice of understanding? You cast him out, wrote he “disrespected America,” when you could’ve invited him back to the table. Fault flows both ways: he provoked, you escalated. I’d have sat with them, broken bread, softened hearts. You chose a wall; he chose a sword. Neither chose me.

Trump:

Jesus, you’re too nice—love it, but it’s geopolitics, not bread-breaking. Zelensky provoked, sure, but I’m the President, okay? I don’t escalate—I respond. Big difference. He’s got billions from us—$350 billion, I checked—and he’s ungrateful! I said, “You should thank me,” because I gave him Javelins, not blankets like Obama, total loser. He turns it into a circus, blames Putin like I don’t know that. I’m trying to fix this—Mar-a-Lago, perfect spot, I’d have them sign by lunch—but he walks out! Vance was right, he’s disrespectful. I’m faultless here—best communicator ever, everyone says it.

Moderator: Time’s up! Jesus pins fault on both, a shared sin of pride and poor listening. Trump lays it all on Zelensky, claiming provocation wrecked his flawless diplomacy. Closing statements—Jesus, go.

Jesus:

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. I cast none—Donald and Volodymyr both stumbled. Peace breaks down when ears close and tongues lash. I’d call them to repent, to sit as brothers, to heal. Fault isn’t one man’s burden; it’s theirs together. Seek first the kingdom, and communication follows.

Trump:

Look, I’m the greatest, okay? Zelensky messed this up—disrespectful, ungrateful, total disaster. I tried, folks, nobody tried harder. Fault’s his, not mine—I’m perfect at this, ask anyone. We’ll fix it anyway, because I’m Trump. Best deals, best communicator, believe me.

Moderator:

Debate’s over! Let’s analyze.

Analysis and Winner Declaration

Jesus’s Argument:

Jesus takes a balanced, philosophical approach, framing the breakdown as a mutual failure rooted in human flaws—pride, impatience, and a lack of empathy. He cites specific moments: Trump’s aggressive ultimatums (“You’re gambling with World War III”) and Zelensky’s defiance (challenging Vance’s experience). He leverages his teachings—meekness, turning the other cheek, removing the beam from one’s eye—to argue neither side sought understanding. His strength is moral clarity and impartiality, holding both accountable without bias. Weakness? He’s light on practical details, leaning on ideals over the gritty realities of that Oval Office clash.

Trump’s Argument:

Trump doubles down with a one-sided, self-aggrandizing narrative, pinning all blame on Zelensky. He highlights Zelensky’s perceived slights—casual attire, sharp retorts, lack of gratitude—and defends his own actions as justified responses, not escalations. He touts his communication prowess and diplomatic intent (the minerals deal, Putin talks), painting himself as the wronged party. Strength lies in his specificity—dates, figures, and quotes—and his unshakeable confidence. Weakness? He ignores his role in the escalation, dismissing evidence of his temper (shouting, ejecting Zelensky) and alienating half the equation.

Verdict:

Jesus wins. His argument aligns with the question’s focus on “who was at fault” by dissecting both parties’ contributions, backed by a consistent moral framework. Trump’s case, while forceful and detailed, sidesteps self-reflection, weakening its credibility against the observed chaos of February 28, 2025. Jesus sees the forest—mutual fault—while Trump fixates on one tree. The Prince of Peace prevails with wisdom over bluster.

My Takeaway

Not unsurprisingly, Jesus isn’t a fan of a runaway ego. My own take falls closer to the side of Jesus here. Though both parties were at fault, my criticism predominantly lies with the American side – both Trump and Vance. Diplomacy isn’t an ideal you give up on when “provoked”. Those moments are an opportunity to show strength in a diplomatic way. Explain, with reason, why you believe someone is wrong on a particular point. Don’t use home field advantage to rhetorically bully. Grok Jesus said it right, “Look to the beam in your own eye before the speck in his.”

Continue the conversation here.