President Donald Trump on Thursday softened his stance on his reference to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a “dictator.”
The United States leader downplayed the remark while taking questions at the White House alongside Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
A journalist asked Trump to comment on the controversial “dictator” remark he had made in a post on his Truth Social platform. 
“Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that,” the President replied. There was pin-drop silence in the room following his response.
Trump had previously described Zelensky as a leader clinging to power, accusing him of refusing to organise elections despite the expiration of his presidential term.
In response, the Ukrainian leader stated that while his country had great respect for the American people and their support, Trump was living “in a disinformation space.”
Trump’s verbal attack on Zelensky sparked strong reactions across Europe, with leaders across the continent also criticising him for accusing Ukraine of instigating the three-year-long war against Russia.
