Trump's remarks were made during a conversation with podcaster Patrick Bet-David, which was released on Thursday.

Trump characterized Zelensky as "one of the greatest salesmen" he has ever encountered and expressed astonishment at the extensive aid Ukraine has secured from the United States. "Who else got that kind of money in history?" Trump queried. "There's never been. And that doesn't mean I don't want to help him because I feel very badly for those people. But he should never have let that war start. That war's a loser."

Following his comments on Zelensky, Trump turned his criticism towards President Joe Biden. Trump attributed the conflict's escalation to Biden, accusing him of instigating the war. The argument comes in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and subsequent extensive support from the U.S., which has seen Congress approve $61 billion in aid this year alone, adding to tens of billions previously committed since the start of the conflict.

Last month, Trump and Zelensky shared a meeting at Trump Tower, their first encounter since 2019. Trump described their meeting as an "honor" and emphasized their "very good relationship," although he concurrently stated he maintains a similarly favorable relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump has emphasized multiple times that, had he remained president, Russia would not have dared to invade Ukraine, casting blame on Biden for the protracted war.

"This should have been settled before it started," Trump remarked during the podcast. "It would have been so easy if we had a president with half a brain, it would have been easy to settle."

This interview is not the first instance where Trump has suggested Zelensky's accountability for the war. At a campaign event in Mint Hill, N.C., Trump criticized Ukraine's leader, stating, "We continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal."

During the same podcast interview, Trump also sparked controversy by questioning Vice President Kamala Harris's racial identity, a topic he has addressed before with unfounded claims. He insinuated that Harris had only "happened to turn Black" a few years ago, a claim he had previously made in July.

As Trump maneuvers through his post-presidential phase, these remarks add to the continuing friction and debates surrounding the ongoing war in Ukraine, international relations, and domestic political dynamics in the United States.