Credit: Melina Barris

WSPN’s Alex Evangelista reflects on the impact of misinformation in politics.

On Feb. 28, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance met with Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House to discuss negotiations over U.S. support for Ukraine in the war against Russia. The talks focused on the possibility of U.S. access to Ukraine’s minerals and resources as part of an effort to end the conflict.

However, the outcome was a significant setback. From the start, there were clear signs of tension between Trump and Zelenskyy, which became increasingly apparent as the meeting progressed. What began as a diplomatic discussion quickly turned into a chaotic and unprofessional shouting match between Trump, Vance and Zelenskyy in the final minutes – a shockingly embarrassing display that was not only counterproductive, but also undermined the gravity of the negotiations.

This meeting was surprising and highlights a troubling trend in politics, both within the U.S. and globally. It seems that meaningful debates have shifted to a contest of volume, where “winning an argument” is more about who can shout their opinion the loudest and less about exchanging substantive ideas. Politics have deteriorated into a cycle of insults, misinformation and shouting matches. Now, it seems like certain politicians think the only way to win an argument is to be louder. This growing dynamic deepens the division at home and abroad. It’s exhausting, and these issues only seem to worsen each year.

For example, in a speech Trump gave on Aug. 8, 2024, he made 162 false and exaggerated claims – an exceptionally high number for a 64-minute press conference. While this figure stands out, misinformation isn’t limited to one party. Former Vice President Kamala Harris made 12 claims that lacked context during her speech at the DNC, while Trump made 20 misleading statements during another speech at the RNC(Republican National Convention).

This pattern of dishonesty was also evident in the meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy and Vance. The two leaders of the U.S. falsely accused Zelenskyy of starting the war with Russia, claimed he had failed to thank the U.S. for its support and asserted the U.S. had provided Ukraine with over $350 billion. All of these statements were either blatantly untrue or gross exaggerations. This meeting was just one of many examples that demonstrates how corrupt political discourse has become.

It’s truly baffling that politicians can lie with complete impunity and have no meaningful consequences. The normalization of dishonesty is dangerous, as many people accept political statements as fact and are deliberately misled to serve specific agendas. Rarely are there serious steps taken to challenge these lies and the deceitful politicians who secure support from the very people they deceive.

Politicians have crossed the line. The constant stream of deceit and misinformation not only undermines the democratic system, but also erodes the trust among citizens and voters. It is time for a change. Americans – and people from around the world – deserve leaders who tell the truth and face accountability when they do not.