By Dick LaFontaine
On The Unknown Podcast, hosts Richard Luthmann and Michael Volpe clashed over the Ukraine War, with Luthmann backing Donald Trump’s position and Volpe calling it an attempt to excuse Russian aggression.
The debate erupted when Volpe read a recent Truth Social post by President Trump, slamming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a "modestly successful comedian" who "talked the U.S. into spending $350 billion" on a war that "never had to start."
President Trump accused Zelensky of keeping the "gravy train" going while millions died.
Volpe took issue with Trump's framing, arguing that Russia, not Ukraine, started the war. "This is like blaming a rape victim for wearing a skirt too high," he said.
Luthmann wasn’t having it.
"Come on, Mike. That is so unfair," Luthmann shot back. "What in that statement isn’t true? Trump says what everyone is thinking but doesn’t have the balls to say."
Zelensky, Elections, and Democracy
Volpe countered that President Trump’s post ignored Russian President Vladimir Putin’s role.
“Trump barely mentions Putin. Russia invaded Ukraine,” he said. “Zelensky isn’t a dictator. He can’t have elections under martial law.”
Luthmann dismissed that explanation.
“When you don’t have elections, you’re not a democracy. You’re a dictatorship,” he argued.
He compared Zelensky’s polling numbers to what the media said President Trump's were before the 2024 election, saying polls are notoriously unreliable.
“If you believed the pollsters, in October, Trump was less popular than Hitler,” Luthmann said.
The Trump Factor
The exchange grew heated when Luthmann blamed the war on the 2020 election.
"These people would be alive if Trump was president," Luthmann declared. "Putin didn’t take a foot of territory when Trump was in office because he knew Moscow might turn to rubble."
Volpe refused to budge. "I blame one person for all the deaths in Ukraine—Vladimir Putin," he said.
Luthmann responded by calling Zelensky "a tool" and argued that Ukraine had conned the U.S. into spending billions.
“This is the military-industrial complex at work. Defense contractors are getting paid, and Europe isn’t paying their fair share,” he said. “That’s what Trump is saying, and he’s right.”
Volpe countered that Trump’s focus was misplaced.
“If he’s mad about Europe not paying enough, he should be talking to Europe, not blaming Ukraine,” he said.
The Trump-Putin Dynamic
Volpe pressed Luthmann on why President Trump refuses to call out Putin directly.
“Putin murders his political opponents. Trump doesn’t mention that,” Volpe said.
Luthmann didn’t deny it but argued it was irrelevant.
“Mike, everyone agrees Putin’s an asshole,” he said.
When Volpe asked who President Trump was negotiating with to end the war, Luthmann made his position clear.
“The only one that matters. Zelensky is a little tool. He’s played the world like a fiddle,” he said.
America First
Luthmann closed with a full-throated defense of President Trump’s "America First" approach.
"Trump is 100% right. We have the Atlantic and the Pacific. We don’t need to be involved in this," he said. "Europe should be ponying up the lion’s share. Why is this our fight?"
Volpe remained unconvinced, calling Trump’s stance “shameful.”
The fiery exchange highlighted a deep divide over U.S. policy on Ukraine.
Luthmann stood firm in his belief that Trump’s approach was correct, while Volpe insisted that President Trump’s take distorted reality and let Putin off the hook.
As the debate closed, neither host budged, but one thing was clear—this issue isn’t going away.
And neither is their disagreement.
Watch the entire Episode 27 of The Unknown Podcast.
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