Trial in recess, Trump meets with Polish leader
NEW YORK — Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump was scheduled to meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda on Wednesday in New York.
The planned dinner meeting, confirmed by a person familiar with the matter, came as European leaders prepare for the possibility that Trump might win the
November election and return to the White House. Leaders of NATO countries are especially concerned given Trump’s long history of critical comments about the key western alliance, even after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The person was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Poland, which shares a border with Ukraine, is a NATO member. Duda, a right-wing populist whose term ends in 2025, has encouraged the United States to send additional funding to Ukraine to combat Russian aggression.
Trump has spoken out against such funding, but in a possible shift late last week, the Republican presidential candidate said he may support additional funding if it was in the form of a loan.
Trump is in New York this week for the beginning of his criminal hush money trial, which has dramatically limited his campaign movements. He is now the first former president in U.S. history to stand criminal trial.
Court was in recess Wednesday with jury selection to resume today.
Republicans in Washington, meanwhile, are fighting amongst themselves over a massive foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other allies. Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement has been especially critical of the Ukraine funding, a position in line with the GOP’S softening stance on Russia since Trump’s rise.