A new book by two New York Times journalists claims that Treasury official Scott Baucus advised former President Trump not to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office before signing a mineral resources agreement with the United States. The advice was reportedly given ahead of Zelensky's planned visit to Washington in February 2025. According to the book, Baucus referred to Zelensky in private conversations using offensive terms such as "little bastard," "special‑needs child," and "Mr. High on drugs."