Ukrainian Journalist Previously Honored By Zelensky Sparks Outrage With Apparent Call For Trump’s Assassination

Ukrainian journalist Vadym Karpiak, previously honored by President Volodymyr Zelensky, reportedly made a chilling statement on social media, appearing to call for the assassination of President Donald Trump and other unnamed U.S. officials, referencing Lee Harvey Oswald, the assassin of President John F. Kennedy.

Posting to Facebook, Karpiak allegedly asked:

“And where is Lee Harvey Oswald when the country needs him so much? And not just one.”

It goes without saying that such statements are highly inflammatory and can have serious legal and ethical implications. It’s also important to note that this comment does not reflect the official stance of the Ukrainian government or President Zelensky.

Zelensky has publicly condemned acts of violence against political figures. Following the assassination attempt on Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania in July 2024, Zelensky stated, “Such violence has no justification and no place anywhere in the world.”

Nevertheless, Karpiak’s thoughts could pose additional challenges for the besieged Ukrainian leader, as reported by Hot Air:

Vadym Karpiac is not a nobody, by any stretch of the imagination. He is one of the major faces of the Ukrainian government’s campaign to keep citizens engaged in supporting the war effort. President Zelensky calls his work “a weapon” in the fight.

Karpiak is a famous journalist and television presenter, best known for hosting the political talk show Svoboda Slova (Freedom of Speech) on the ICTV channel. Born on Jan. 27, 1977, in Kolomyia, Ukraine, he pursued higher education at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, earning a bachelor’s degree in cultural theory in 1998 and a master’s in political science in 2001.

Karpiak’s media career began during his university years, initially as a radio host for The Capital’s Radio FM in 1997. He later served as the executive editor for Snidanok z 1+1 from 1999 to 2001. In 2016, he became the host of Svoboda Slova on ICTV, solidifying his reputation in political journalism.

​Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Karpiak has played a pivotal role in Ukrainian media and society, serving as a host of the Yedini Novyny (United News) telethon on ICTV, a collaborative effort among Ukrainian broadcasters to provide continuous news coverage during the war.

Karpiak has also taken part in global events, including the Lviv BookForum 2024, where he discussed Ukraine’s resilience and the critical role of media during the war.

Despite his fame, The New York Times reported last year that Ukrainians have grown increasingly disillusioned with Karpiak’s government-approved news programming, criticizing it for painting an overly optimistic picture of the war.

David Strom from Hot Air concludes:

As a general rule, you can say that wars bring out the best in people–Ukrainians have been incredibly brave facing down Putin–and the worst in people–attacking America, which is their major funder, and calling for the assassination of its leader when he doesn’t give everything you want.

I get that emotions are running high and that many Ukrainians feel betrayed–I believe wrongly, but certainly understand their passion–but this is grossly unacceptable.

​Volodymyr Zelensky has recently taken steps to mend ties with President Trump following their contentious meeting last week. He issued a statement expressing regret over the incident, which many interpret as a tacit apology.

​Does he now owe Trump an explicit apology for Karpiak’s threat, given Karpiak’s status as a state-sanctioned news presenter?

One thing is certain: with next week’s U.S.-Ukraine meeting in Saudi Arabia fast approaching, both leaders appear to be focusing on diplomatic efforts to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

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