Trump labelled Kellogg an ‘idiot’ for backing Zelensky – NYT

U.S. President Donald Trump privately derided his special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg as an “idiot” after the retired general publicly praised Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, according to a report by the New York Times citing ‘unnamed officials’.

The account sheds light on growing tensions inside the Trump administration over Ukraine policy, as Reuters has separately reported that Kellogg is expected to step down from his role sometime in January.

The New York Times said friction between Trump and Kellogg surfaced early last year, after Trump publicly attacked Zelensky, calling him “a dictator without elections” over his refusal to hold a presidential vote while martial law remains in force.

Kellogg declined to echo that criticism and instead posted a supportive message on X, describing Zelensky as an “embattled and courageous leader of a nation at war.”

According to two officials quoted by the paper, Trump later confronted Kellogg at the White House, asking sharply, “So you call Zelensky embattled and courageous?” Kellogg reportedly replied that Ukraine was fighting an existential war for survival, adding: “When was the last time an American president faced that? It was Abraham Lincoln.” Trump later dismissed the envoy in conversations with aides, saying simply: “He’s an idiot.”

Reuters previously described Kellogg as a “sympathetic ear” for Kiev within the Trump administration, noting that his expected departure was viewed as unwelcome news in Ukraine.

The New York Times reported that figures close to Vice President J.D. Vance saw Kellogg as “a Cold War relic” and doubted Moscow would engage with him. They were also critical of his proposals, which included an unconditional ceasefire, continued US military aid to Ukraine and tougher sanctions on Russia, arguing these ideas would prolong the conflict rather than help Washington de-escalate it.

Kellogg travelled to Kiev several times last year but did not visit Moscow and was absent from key diplomatic meetings, including talks between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska and a recent meeting between Trump and Zelensky in Florida. His anticipated exit now appears to underline a broader shift inside the administration as Trump pushes for a faster diplomatic resolution to the conflict.