Susan Rice firmly dismissed claims that she and other Obama administration officials influenced Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s approach to his meeting with Donald Trump. The former national security advisor responded forcefully to speculation circulating online about her alleged involvement.
Susan Rice took to X on Saturday to confront conservative commentator Mollie Hemingway’s assertion that Team Obama “personally advised” the Ukrainian president before his Oval Office encounter with Trump and J.D. Vance. In a direct rebuttal, Rice slammed the claim as baseless.
“You clowns are up to the same old tired crap,” Susan Rice wrote. “When your guy screws up and embarrasses himself and the U.S., you change the subject and lie to distract.”
Hemingway, editor-in-chief of The Federalist and a Fox News contributor, had earlier suggested that Rice and other former Obama officials orchestrated Zelenskyy’s approach, aiming to provoke Trump. The accusation stirred controversy, prompting Rice’s emphatic denial.
“For the record, I have never met Zelenskyy and never spoken to him,” Susan Rice responded. “Ever. Nor have I advised him or anyone around him. It’s disappointing that you believe selling out Ukraine and appeasing Putin aligns with U.S. national interests.”
Hemingway, refusing to back down, fired back with a pointed response. “Thank you for your response,” she posted. “Where does this denial rank compared to your repeated false claim that the Benghazi attack was due to a YouTube video? Or when you said you ‘knew nothing’ about the unmasking of Trump officials before admitting you did it widely?”
The exchange reignited partisan debates, reflecting ongoing tensions over Ukraine, U.S. foreign policy, and lingering controversies tied to past administrations. While Susan Rice remains a frequent target for conservative critics, her swift and direct response underscored her refusal to let misinformation spread unchecked.