The White House Invited me to Discuss the War in Ukraine!

My experience under the previous administration stands in stark contrast to what we saw this week.

In 2022, I was invited to a White House briefing on the war in Ukraine.

@kahlilgreeneThe White House invited content creators to learn more about the crisis in Ukraine. #hiddenhistory #ukraine #blackcommunitytiktok

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The Biden administration recognized that social media had become a primary news source, especially for Gen Z, and they wanted to ensure that digital educators like myself had access to official information. The meeting was structured, diplomatic, and, most importantly, transparent. We were encouraged to ask tough questions, and while the administration certainly had its talking points, they at least acknowledged public skepticism and attempted to provide reasoned responses. The Washington Post broke public news of the event, I authored a piece on it for Newsweek, and Saturday Night Live even let it inspire a cold-open.

SNL parodies the White House meeting with influencers about the Russia-Ukraine War (2022)

Yesterday, Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. Instead of a diplomatic exchange, the meeting descended into a public humiliation—Trump berated Zelensky, mocked Ukraine’s war efforts, and prioritized securing U.S. access to Ukraine’s mineral wealth over any real discussion of military support. By the time it was over, Zelensky had left the White House empty-handed, Trump had canceled their joint press conference, and Senate Republicans who had once supported Ukraine were now calling for Zelensky to step down.

This is the difference between an administration that, for all its faults, at least engaged in open communication—and a leader who openly antagonizes allies, silences dissent, and manipulates press coverage to his advantage.

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The 2022 White House Briefing: Transparency and Open Debate

The Biden administration’s approach in 2022 wasn’t perfect, but it reflected a baseline respect for open discourse. Content creators weren’t just there to amplify a pre-approved message; we were given the opportunity to challenge it.

I took that opportunity seriously. When I got the chance to ask a direct question, I focused on an issue that many of my followers—particularly those from marginalized communities—had been raising:

Why is there such an imbalance of coverage and aid between the Ukraine-Russia crisis and other invasions, occupations, and conflicts worldwide, including some where the U.S. has played a direct role? What incentives exist for people from historically ignored communities to support such a singular focus on Ukraine?

The White House’s response boiled down to four points:

1. The scale of Russia’s invasion—the largest since World War II—made it a uniquely urgent crisis.

2. They acknowledged media coverage imbalances and encouraged content creators to spotlight underreported global issues.

3. They claimed the U.S. was still providing aid elsewhere, even if those efforts weren’t widely covered.

4. They hoped this crisis would unify Americans and give them a moment to be “proud” of how the U.S. had rallied global support against Russia.

It was a diplomatic answer, but I still had my critiques:

• Media coverage is not just about corporate decisions—it’s about political priorities. Biden had just delivered the State of the Union, where he could have highlighted multiple global crises. Instead, he used the moment to affirm police funding and shape the narrative around domestic issues he wanted to emphasize. Governments aren’t just passive victims of media focus; they actively shape it.

• The U.S. wasn’t just an outside observer of global crises—it was often an active participant. While the administration spoke about all the good the U.S. was doing to help, they avoided discussing what the U.S. needed to stop doing—whether it was backing harmful foreign interventions or maintaining policies that fueled instability.

Despite these critiques, the fundamental difference was that I was allowed to engage in open debate. The White House invited creators to challenge them, and there was no effort to control what we reported afterward. Compare that to what happened yesterday.

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Trump’s 2025 Oval Office Meeting: Chaos, Humiliation, and Control

Zelensky and Trump go head-to-head

From the moment Zelensky walked into the White House, it was clear Trump had no intention of engaging in diplomacy. He mocked Zelensky’s military-style clothing, belittled Ukraine’s war effort, and dismissed concerns about Russian aggression. When Zelensky pushed for security guarantees, Trump shut him down and accused him of “gambling with World War III.” Then, in front of reporters, he incorrectly claimed Russia’s invasion of Crimea happened under Biden, only to be corrected by Zelensky himself. Rather than admit his mistake, Trump and his vice president lashed out, calling Zelensky “disrespectful.”

The hostility escalated to the point that Trump abruptly canceled the signing of a mineral rights deal that had been the main reason for Zelensky’s visit. The joint press conference? Canceled. The diplomatic lunch? Canceled—though Trump and his aides still ate the meal without their Ukrainian counterparts.

Then came the final blow: Republican senators, who had been staunch supporters of Ukraine, immediately turned on Zelensky. Lindsey Graham—who had previously called for more military aid—said Zelensky should resign. Trump, meanwhile, boarded Air Force One for Florida, proudly declaring that “justice finally won out.”

This wasn’t just bad diplomacy—it was a deliberate power play. Trump had no interest in engaging with an ally; he wanted to publicly humiliate and weaken Zelensky to assert dominance.

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Trump’s War on Free Speech

If this meeting proved anything, it’s that Trump has no respect for open debate, journalistic independence, or dissenting voices. The same man who mocked a foreign leader on live television is now handpicking which media outlets are allowed to cover him.

This week, his administration officially revoked the White House Correspondents’ Association’s role in selecting reporters, instead granting access to handpicked outlets—mostly right-wing media and influencers. Major news agencies like the Associated Press have already been banned from Oval Office events, and Trump has floated lawsuits against journalists who use anonymous sources.

This is not just a shift in press strategy—it’s an attempt to control the narrative at every level. Unlike in 2022, when I was free to critique the administration’s response to Ukraine, journalists today are facing outright bans, legal threats, and direct government interference.

This is the world Trump is building: one where independent voices are shut out, dissent is punished, and only approved narratives make it to the public.

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Why Independent Voices Matter More Than Ever

In 2022, I was given access to the White House and allowed to ask hard questions. I didn’t accept their answers at face value, and I made sure my audience knew where the administration’s response fell short. But at least I was allowed to do that.

Under Trump, this kind of open dialogue is disappearing. The press is being silenced. Allies are being humiliated. And the space for independent, critical voices is shrinking fast.

That’s why I’m asking you to support independent history, journalism, and truth.

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References

1. Lorenz, Taylor. 2022. "The White House is Briefing TikTok Stars About the War in Ukraine." The Washington Post, March 11.

2. Greene, Kahlil. 2022. "'I Was At The White House TikTok Briefing'." Newsweek, April 4.

3. Pager, Tyler, and Maggie Haberman. 2025. "How Zelensky’s Oval Office Meeting Turned into a Showdown With Trump." The New York Times, March 1.

4. Gedeon, Joseph. 2025. "Outcry as White House Starts Dictating Which Journalists Can Access Trump." The Guardian, February 26.

5. Oliver, David. 2022. "'SNL': Biden Administration Invites TikTok Creators for Summit at White House on Ukraine War." USA Today, March 12.