Oval Office Showdown: Trump’s Diplomatic Disaster

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May 1, 2025
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ANYA GOROVITS || STAFF WRITER

“I think we’ve seen enough. This is going to be great television.”

With these words, President Trump concluded February 28’s disastrous meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—a meeting that was intended to strengthen alliances but instead heavily damaged them. Taking place in the Oval Office, a room representing utmost diplomacy, decorum, and statesmanship, the meeting was anything but diplomatic.

Zelenskyy arrived in Washington, D.C. on the morning of February 28. He then met with Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other US government officials. Reporters from all over the world were also present, bombarding the presidents with questions throughout the meeting. The leaders aimed to discuss continued US support for Ukraine, establish plans on ending the war, and agree on a US mineral deal on Ukraine’s resources. However, the meeting was far from productive, with Trump quickly launching a personal attack against Zelenskyy, Ukraine, and former President Biden rather than trying to stop the war.

“It was appalling seeing supposedly the leader of the free world, the most powerful person in the world, act like a little child,” expressed half-Ukrainian sophomore Armand Omelko. The end of the meeting was so full of interruptions and insults on Trump’s part that it indeed sounded more like children fighting than a discussion among the highest officials of two nations. Not only was Trump constantly interrupting his guest, but he actually yelled at Zelenskyy for trying to speak about his own country’s opinions.

“You don’t have the cards right now” was the catchphrase Trump repeatedly used to interrupt Zelenskyy. While speaking to a person tasked with one of the most difficult careers, the president of a country at war, Trump called Zelenskyy’s job a game of cards.

The meeting started off all right, with the presidents calmly answering the press’s questions. Yet things began to escalate when Republican reporter Brian Glenn asked Zelenskyy why he didn’t wear a suit to the meeting. The disrespect of such a question is unbelievable. Not only is there a valid reason for Zelenskyy’s outfit—in the duration of the war, the president has been wearing army attire to show support for his military—but the question seems incredibly hypocritical considering how US government official Elon Musk has, on numerous occasions, worn very informal attire to the Oval Office.

What I don’t understand is why the international press was at the meeting in the first place. The conference was meant to decide the outcome of millions of lives, which doesn’t seem like something that should be showcased to the entire world.

“I was horrified by what I was watching. I just couldn’t believe this was playing out in front of cameras in the Oval Office,” said AHS history teacher Kathryn Vives.

It is obvious that Trump simply wanted to humiliate Zelenskyy. As seen in Trump’s quote about making “great television,” he only wanted more attention for himself. “He just wants to be seen on the news, not to actually accomplish anything,” Omelko said.

Yet the most disrespectful comment came from Vance when he asked Zelenskyy, “Have you said thank you once?” He then attacked Zelenskyy for not being grateful for the US’s aid, which is false. According to UNITED 24, the official fundraising platform of the Ukrainian government, Zelenskyy has publicly thanked the US at least 94 times in speeches and social media posts. Yet Vance still demanded that Zelenskyy thank Trump over and over. When Zelenskyy tried to return to the subject of fixing the war, Trump interrupted him with “No. You’ve done a lot of talking,” as if he was shutting down a child’s remarks and not a president’s.

“They want him to grovel,” said history teacher Lauren Ream, who was also shocked at how Trump and Vance treated Zelenskyy. “We shouldn’t treat any other country like that,” she added. Considering how Ukraine has been a US ally for over 30 years, this treatment is even more disgraceful.

During the meeting, Trump also managed to lie several times, not just to Zelenskyy but to everyone watching. He made multiple false claims about US aid given to Ukraine during the war. Trump first stated that the US had given over $300 billion to Ukraine, when, according to the Kiel Institute, the correct number as of February 2025 is $128 billion, less than half of Trump’s claim. “And he kept referring to it as being stolen,” added Ream. This money was certainly not stolen. The Biden Administration voted and chose to contribute this aid to Ukraine. Additionally, Trump stated that Europe has given $200 billion less in aid than the US has. However, at that point, Europe had given around $258 billion to Ukraine, more than twice as much as what the US had given.

Furthermore, Trump took pleasure in pivoting the conversation to insult previous presidents. He called Biden “a not very smart person,” which doesn’t seem like something one president should say about another, especially during a meeting that didn’t concern Biden. As for Obama, Trump said to Zelenskyy, “Obama gave you sheets. In fact, the statement is: Obama gave sheets, and Trump gave Javelins (missiles). You’ve got to be more thankful because let me tell you, you don’t have the cards.” I think that bit speaks for itself.

Vives connected the meeting to the 1938 Munich Agreement, when the UK and France appeased Germany, letting it take over land in Czechoslovakia, which led to World War II. Trump also hopes to appease Russia by having Ukraine give up its currently occupied land, which could pose a serious danger for the rest of Europe. “This war isn’t just for Ukraine. If Ukraine really falls, who’s to say Russia will just stop there?” said Omelko.

Since this meeting, many nations and people have lost trust in the US. Because of our network of alliances, any war including Russia can pose an extreme danger to the world. Previously, the US and most European nations agreed on this and worked together to prevent the situation from escalating. Yet Trump’s disrespect for Zelenskyy and positive comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin have changed this. “The US isn’t on [Europe’s] side anymore. The US has switched sides,” said Omelko. The meeting has sent a message to our allies that the US can no longer be trusted. “The greater damage has been done to our reputation across the world—that we are not an ally to be depended on,” agreed Vives.

Andoverview

AHS Class of 2026 Graduation: A Sentiment of Gratitude

June 11, 2026

Abby Chachus & Kendall Murphy || STAFF WRITERS

A hush falls as a sea of navy gowns, a rising tide of Andover High School graduates enters the Tsongas Center just before 5 o’clock on June 1, 2026. There is something distinct about moments like these. A goodbye that is bittersweet among both the audience and the seniors.

According to Graduation Committee member Ella Murphy, it is a goodbye to “Halloween costume competitions that never disappoint, lunches, wrap lines and vending machine trips,” seemingly inconsequential things, but the memories will stick with all of the students as they move on to their future endeavors.

The graduation speakers shared the value of these moments and their gratitude for the people that helped them along the way. As the ceremony commenced, the opening speakers Zachery Pan and Murphy welcomed everyone and encouraged them to acknowledge their shared experiences at Andover High School. “These moments, these memories, these faces. None of us got here alone.” said Pan.

Their speech gave time to deliver some truly meaningful thank you’s, “beyond the formalities” as Murphy put it, to the teachers and staff that showed up each day with “patience, support, and dedication.” Furthermore, they recognized that this gratitude is not solely meant for the significant ceremonies.

“Gratitude is kind of strange. We tend to save it for the big moments. The ceremonies, the stages, the audiences,” said Murphy.

“But let’s be honest—the people who actually changed your life probably weren’t standing on a stage when they did it,” continued Pan.

They concluded the speech with a request to the graduates to thank those who changed their lives in both the big and small moments, even if it feels unnecessary.

Before graduation, other seniors expressed similar thoughts, like reflecting on the journey that got them to where they are today.

“To all my teachers: thank you for everything. I would not be here without any single one of you.” said Christopher Reardon.

Thomas Enman advised underclassmen to “just enjoy every little minute you get at AHS.”

Vignesha Jayakumar, class essayist and valedictorian, echoed this same sentiment of appreciation, reinforcing Reardon’s message about the lasting impact of teachers and support systems. “We were galvanized from a community of supportive teachers and staff who didn’t just teach us subjects, they taught us how to think, how to question, how to care,” said Jayakumar.

He also mentioned the importance of one learning from their fellow graduates. “We learned as much from each other in the hallways and the bleachers as we did in the classroom,” he said.

After Jayakumar, Graduation Committee members Ben Pelt and Kari Belson spoke. First, Pelt announced the Class of 2026’s class gift to AHS. Next, Belson named Scott Armstrong the 2026 Distinguished Citizen (see page 4).

When Principal Jimmy D’Andrea took the stage, he, like all the other speakers, expressed the value of gratitude, a central theme that resonated throughout the ceremony. He began by thanking each group that got each member of the graduating class to where they were standing in the Tsongas Center, about to leave the comfort of being an AHS student and moving onto becoming alumni, highlighting the strong support system and sense of community that defined the graduating class’s journey.

He also encouraged each graduate to “personally reach out and thank those individuals who made a difference in [their] lives,” reinforcing the ceremony’s message of appreciation, reflection, and recognition for the people who helped shape their high school experience.

Interim Superintendent Keith Taverna encouraged graduates to continue to make the community proud with the positive impact they will bring to the world.

To conclude the ceremony, Graduation Committee members Chloe Ahn and Margaret Farabaugh brought everyone together one last time. “Tonight we stand together because of the strong and spirited community we have built,” said Ahn.

Ahn concluded, “As we become graduates of Andover High School, we step into the world with purpose, passion, and pride… Congratulations class of 2026!”

Students, Faculty Travel to Scandinavia Over Spring Break

June 11, 2026

Samin Faiz || STAFF WRITER

Forty-two Andover High School students and seven chaperones visited Scandinavia this April.

After a six-hour flight from Boston to Reykjavík, Iceland, followed by a two-hour flight to Oslo, Norway, the group began their ten-day-long tour the Thursday before spring break. Through a combination of bus rides, overnight ferries, and countless miles on foot, the group made their way through five Northern European countries: Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia.

“I’ve been traveling with students since 2005, so this might be my 17th tour,” said Brian Shea, English teacher, organizer, and chaperone of the trip. “We’ve now done all of Europe, so Northern Europe was sort of our last frontier.”

Apart from the chaperones, the group was accompanied by a tour director named Yulia, whom Shea worked closely with to structure the daily itinerary and ensure a smooth trip.

In Scandinavia, English is widely spoken, so the language barrier was never a problem for the group. Sometimes, however, the students made connections in ways that transcend the spoken word.

“I played soccer with a bunch of people in Sweden,” recalled Hannah Arnold, a junior who participated in the trip. “That was probably the highlight of the trip for me.”

Arnold is no stranger to international travel. Just two months earlier, in fact, she joined her classmates on another school trip to Peru over winter break. However, for her twin sister, Grace Arnold, this was a brand-new experience.

“I met a lot of new people that I’ve never met before, especially people not in my grade,” Grace said. “It was really nice because I met a lot of great people through that and got to spend time with people I wouldn’t usually get to spend time with.”

The trip offered a flexible balance of group tours and independent exploration. “We had a lot of free time,” Grace noted. “We got to explore cities on our own and shop where we wanted. As long as you stayed in groups of three or more, you were free to roam the city.”

Students observed the region’s distinct economic models. Through agreements within the European Union and the Nordic Council, higher education is heavily subsidized or entirely free for regional citizens.

“It’s really interesting. They tax wealthier people a lot more and their overall tax rates are a lot higher,” one student observed. “The way they reinvest money back into infrastructure contributes to stronger public infrastructure. Education and health care are free, and they even offer stipends to cover the cost of living. Essentially, you pay a lot of taxes, but you get a lot in return.”

Students also noticed the societal impact of these safety nets. “Their unhoused population is significantly lower. If you want help, those systems are available to support you.”

The travelers’ curiosity and maturity left a strong impression on the faculty.

“These kids were wonderful,” said Shea. “All of the students were engaged. They were paying attention. They were enjoying it. They were wonderful travelers. To me, that was the biggest thrill.”

With the preparations for next year’s destinations already underway, the future of travel programs at AHS seems to be brimming with opportunities.

“Next year, we have two tours,” said Shea. “We’re running one tour to Barcelona and Madrid in February, and then we’re running another tour to Greece in April.”

Such opportunities are often highly selective at other schools, but luckily, these trips remain open to the entire student body at AHS.

“There’s no application process,” Shea emphasized. “We’re not looking at grades. We’re not looking at behavioral records. Anybody can sign up when we offer these tours. I put them out there, and I’m like, ‘If you want to go, come.’”

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Oval Office Showdown: Trump’s Diplomatic Disaster

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