Former President Trump Meets with Polish President Duda in New York Tower Dinner

On Wednesday, April 17, former President Donald Trump met with Polish President Andrzej Duda in New York for a dinner at Trump Tower. This meeting is part of a series of discussions with foreign leaders as Europe prepares for the possibility of a second Trump term. The two leaders were expected to discuss various topics, including Ukraine, during their dinner.

President Duda, who has shown admiration for Trump, is also a staunch supporter of Ukraine. He has urged Washington to increase aid to Kyiv amidst the ongoing Russian invasion. However, the funding for this has been stalled by Trump allies in Congress. As Trump arrived for the meeting, he praised President Duda, emphasizing their strong relationship. He stated, “He's done a fantastic job and he’s my friend,” and added, “We’re behind Poland all the way.”

U.S. allies around the world, taken by surprise by Trump's 2016 election win, have been eager to establish relationships with the former president. By meeting with Trump during the 2024 campaign, these allies indicate their determination not to be caught off guard again.

Former President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, who challenged Obama in 2012, also engaged in meetings with foreign leaders during their campaigns, establishing a precedent for such actions.

Previous Meetings

Duda’s visit follows Trump's meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron last week, and the former president's hosting of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán the month before. Trump also had a brief encounter with Javier Milei, the right-wing populist president of Argentina, in February at a political conference in Washington.

The Biden administration has refrained from publicly addressing foreign leaders' meetings with Trump, acknowledging the real possibility of Trump winning the race. While some officials have privately expressed frustration, they are cautious about criticizing such meetings to avoid charges of hypocrisy.

President Duda's visit coincides with House Republicans' debate over a $95 billion foreign aid bill that includes funding for Ukraine. Duda has been advocating for increased defense spending by NATO members, a stance that aligns with Trump's position on the matter. This meeting has drawn mixed reactions in Poland, where concerns over Russia are prevalent and Duda's close ties with Trump have sparked controversy.

Reporting from Warsaw contributed by Scislowska. Associated Press writers Matthew Lee, Zeke Miller, and Seung Min Kim in Washington also contributed to this report.