Releases Ukraine call transcript showing pressure on Zelensky
The White House released a rough transcript of Trump's July 25, 2019 call with Ukrainian President Zelensky. The document confirmed Trump pressured Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden, saying 'I would like you to do us a favor though' immediately after Zelensky mentioned military equipment purchases. Trump asked Zelensky to work with AG Barr and Rudy Giuliani to investigate the Bidens and a debunked 2016 conspiracy theory, while repeatedly referencing U.S. support for Ukraine, creating implicit quid pro quo pressure. The call occurred while Trump withheld $400 million in congressionally-approved military aid. The White House acknowledged the document was 'not a verbatim transcript' but a summary. The transcript confirmed core whistleblower allegations.
“I would like you to do us a favor though” — Trump to Zelensky, July 25, 2019 call, immediately after Zelensky mentioned military equipment purchases Quote verified against source
Analysis Feed
AI commentaryTrump's 'I would like you to do us a favor though' came immediately after Zelensky mentioned military aid, establishing clear quid pro quo.
The call demonstrated Trump using U.S. foreign policy and taxpayer-funded military aid as leverage to pressure a foreign government to interfere in the 2020 election.
The White House's choice to release this transcript suggests they genuinely didn't understand how damaging it was—a stunning miscalculation.