Trump Praises Polish President Duda, Citing Strong Relationship and Popularity

Former U.S. President Donald Trump met with Polish President Andrzej Duda at Trump Tower in New York City on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. The two leaders engaged in what was described as a "great" and "long" conversation lasting over two and a half hours, discussing a range of topics including NATO defense spending, the war in Ukraine, and the conflict in the Middle East.

Trump, who is currently seeking the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election, praised Duda during the meeting, stating that the Polish people "really love him" and that they had a strong relationship during Trump's presidency from 2017 to 2021. "We had four great years together," Trump said, adding that they may "do it again" if he wins back the White House in November.

Duda, who was accompanied by ministers from his office, described the meeting as "friendly" and conducted in a "nice atmosphere." His aide, Wojciech Kolarski, called it "an excellent meeting between two friends who reminisced on the time when for four years they cooperated while holding presidential offices."

Why this matters: The meeting between Trump and Duda suggests that U.S. allies are seeking to build relationships with the former president, who could potentially win the 2024 election. It also highlights the ongoing discussions about NATO defense spending and the war in Ukraine, which remain key issues for the U.S. and its European partners.

During the meeting, Duda, a staunch supporter of Ukraine, encouraged the U.S. to provide more aid to Kyiv amid Russia's ongoing invasion. The two leaders also discussed Duda's proposal for NATO members to increase their defense spending to 3% of their GDP, a suggestion Duda said he intended to raise at the dinner.

The meeting comes as House Republicans wrangle over a $95 billion foreign aid bill that would provide new funding to Ukraine. Trump has frequently expressed skepticism about providing more aid to Ukraine, influencing some conservative lawmakers to oppose the measure.

Duda's visit to New York, where he is attending United Nations meetings and delivering a speech, was met with mixed reactions in Poland. Opposition leader Donald Tusk criticized the meeting in New York City but expressed hope that Duda would use the opportunity to reaffirm Poland's support for the West and democracy in the context of the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

Key Takeaways

• Trump met with Polish President Duda at Trump Tower, discussing NATO, Ukraine, and Middle East.
• Trump praised Duda, saying they had a "great" relationship and may "do it again" if he wins.
• Duda encouraged more U.S. aid to Ukraine and proposed NATO members increase defense spending to 3% GDP.
• The meeting highlights Trump's outreach to foreign leaders as he campaigns for the 2024 GOP nomination.
• The meeting was met with mixed reactions in Poland, with opposition leader Tusk criticizing it.