New book: Trump official called Zelenskyy 'Mr. Bean on crack'

A forthcoming book by New York Times journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan claims that former Trump Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent privately used highly offensive language to describe Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The book, "Changing of the Regime," alleges Bessent referred to Zelenskyy as a "little shit," a "special needs child for Europeans," and "Mr. Bean on crack."

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I've been dealing with this little shit.

According to the book, Bessent attempted to dissuade then-President Donald Trump from meeting with Zelenskyy before Ukraine signed a mineral rights agreement that Washington had prepared. The report suggests that Bessent's derogatory remarks were made privately to associates.

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special needs child for Europeans

The book further details a tense meeting in February 2025 between Bessent and Zelenskyy in Kyiv, where the two reportedly engaged in a heated argument over the proposed mineral rights deal. Authors claim the discussion escalated into shouting, with Bessent questioning Zelenskyy's intentions. The deal was later revised in Washington, with Trump reportedly asking Usha Vance, wife of Vice President J.D. Vance, to review the Ukrainian amendments, which she allegedly deemed "terrible."

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Mr. Bean on crack

An additional detail from the book suggests Bessent privately compared Donald Trump to George Soros, a major donor to the Democratic Party. "They are the same animals," Bessent reportedly said, drawing a parallel between the former president and the billionaire philanthropist. The book is expected to generate significant attention for its revelations about the Trump administration's internal dynamics and its approach to the war in Ukraine.

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Forty-five minutes the two men attacked each other.