Donald Trump places immense value on what he regards as “loyalty” within his associates.
After leaving the White House, he still insists on absolute loyalty, carefully screening Republican candidates seeking his “coveted” endorsement in upcoming elections.
The anticipations he imposes on his confidants pale in comparison to the challenges experienced by seasoned government officials during his tenure as the U.S. president.
Marie Yovanovitch — the former US Ambassador to Ukraine under Trump who testified against him in the 2019 impeachment, and was lauded as a hero — suggests that if Trump were in office, he'd have averted the war diplomatically. But she thinks this would've been a terrible thing pic.twitter.com/1Q4qp5cNOA
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) April 23, 2022
Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine who played a big role as a witness during Trump’s first impeachment trial, is publishing a book titled “Lessons From The Edge.” In this, she revisits a troubling incident involving loyalty while serving in the Trump administration.
Yovanovitch held the position of U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine that included the “perfect” phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in which Trump asked for information on Joe Biden. Yovanovitch had denied Trump’s attempts to pressure Ukraine.
“When I tried the loyalty pledge on for size, I couldn’t make it fit — not if I wanted to keep my integrity intact,” she said. “Even worse, I thought such a statement was demeaning — and wrong.”
In her book, Yovanovitch delves into the turmoil she received from Trump.
As a career diplomat, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine from 2016 to 2019. She was a key figure in the first impeachment of Donald Trump, after she was removed from her post as ambassador amid a smear campaign by Trump and his allies.
Yovanovitch was born in Washington, D.C. to Ukrainian immigrant parents. She graduated from Princeton University and Georgetown University School of Law. After law school, she joined the U.S. Foreign Service and served in a variety of diplomatic posts around the world.
In 2016, Yovanovitch was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine. She served in this role for two years, during which time she worked to support Ukraine’s anti-corruption efforts and to counter Russian aggression.
In 2019, Yovanovitch was recalled from her post as ambassador after Trump and his allies began a smear campaign against her. Trump and his allies accused Yovanovitch of being corrupt and of working against Trump’s interests in Ukraine. These accusations were baseless and motivated by political considerations.
Yovanovitch returned to the United States and testified before the House Intelligence Committee during the impeachment inquiry into Trump. In her testimony, she defended her record as ambassador and accused Trump of pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rivals.
Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Yovanovitch has continued to speak out about the importance of diplomacy and the dangers of Trump’s attacks on民主 institutions.
Yovanovitch’s story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of political interference in foreign policy. She is a patriot who served her country with distinction, but she was removed from her post as ambassador because she stood in the way of Trump’s personal political interests.
Yovanovitch’s story is also a reminder of the importance of courage and integrity in public service. She stood up to Trump and his allies, even though she knew it would come at a cost. Her actions are an inspiration to all who believe in the rule of law and the importance of democratic institutions.
