Sir Michael Caine has added his voice to the ongoing tension between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy, 47, traveled to Washington, D.C., on Friday, February 28, to secure security assurances from the US and discuss a potential mineral agreement amidst Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia.
While his previous meeting with President Joe Biden went smoothly, his encounter with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance quickly turned heated.
Vance accused Zelenskyy of not properly acknowledging US support, harshly telling him, “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media.”
Zelenskyy didn’t hold back, firing back with a sharp retort, questioning whether Vance had ever visited Ukraine during the war and warning that the US would “feel it in the future” regarding the war’s ongoing consequences.
The exchange clearly rattled Trump, who shot back sharply: “Don’t tell us what we’re gonna feel… We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re gonna feel.”
The 78-year-old former president didn’t hold back, continuing his harsh words toward the Ukrainian leader: “You have to be thankful. You don’t have the cards. You’re buried there. Your people are dying. You’re running low on soldiers. I’ve empowered you to be a tough guy, and I don’t think you’d be a tough guy without the United States.”
Trump also warned Zelenskyy, telling him he was “gambling with millions of lives” and even “World War III” itself.
According to reports, the tense meeting ended abruptly, with Zelenskyy allegedly being “kicked out” of the White House shortly after, as reported by CNBC.
As reactions poured in from across the globe in real-time, one Hollywood legend may have had the perfect response to the debacle.
Sir Michael Caine took to X (formerly Twitter) with a simple yet powerful three-word message, which read: “Calm down Trump.”
The post quickly went viral on the platform, amassing 172K likes and 12K retweets.
Yes, he doesn’t tweet often, but when he does, it’s pure gold.
The 91-year-old British acting legend, renowned for The Italian Job and Interstellar, wasn’t done just yet.
He followed up his post with another cheeky “Calm down,” before referencing his iconic 1969 film with a playful twist on one of his most famous lines: “You’re only supposed to sign a ceasefire.”
Fans were quick to praise his witty take, with one commenter writing, “Epic comment from you, sir.” Another shared, “This is why you’re a national treasure,” while a third added, “Michael Caine weighing in on foreign policy 8 words at a time has been the only good thing to come out of today.”
Following the intense confrontation, both Trump and Zelenskyy issued their own statements.
The two-time US president took to his X page, stating: “We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE.”
He added, “He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for peace.”
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy posted on X: “Thank you, America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”
Later, he shared a more detailed message after his interview with Fox News’ chief political anchor Bret Baier: “America’s help has been vital in helping us survive, and I want to acknowledge that. Despite the tough dialogue, we remain strategic partners. But we need to be honest and direct with each other to truly understand our shared goals.”
He continued, “It’s crucial for us to have President Trump’s support. He wants to end the war, but no one wants peace more than we do. We are the ones living this war in Ukraine. It’s a fight for our freedom, for our very survival.”
Zelenskyy also made it clear that he is “ready to sign the mineral deal,” but emphasized that he needs security assurances from Trump and the United States before moving forward.
