Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday met with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Manhattan, touting his close personal relationship with the NATO-nation leader who has called for more international support for war-torn Ukraine.
“He’s doing a fantastic job,” Trump said of Duda, referring to him as “my friend,” as they walked into the lobby of Trump Tower.
“We had four great years together. Four great years,” the 77-year-old presumptive Republican nominee for president added.
To which Duda responded, “That’s true.”
“We may have to do it again,” the former president said.
“We’ve had a very good and personal relationship. Never had even a problem, not even a minor problem, we agree on so much,” Trump said of his bond with his former counterpart.
A crowd of about 150 people had formed in front of the police barricades set up near the ex-commander in chief’s former primary residence to catch a glimpse of the Trump-Duda handshake, with some Trump supporters heard shouting, “USA,” “Save America,” and “Stop the war.”
Duda has been a staunch proponent of supporting Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s February 2022 invasion.
The topic of the war in the former Soviet state was expected to come up during the Trump-Duda confab, but details of their meeting were not immediately available.
Both Duda and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk have urged Congress to approve billions of dollars in additional military aid to Kyiv, fearing that Russian President Vladimir Putin will set his sights on NATO countries if he succeeds in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Trump has been skeptical of continued US support for the war effort, recently arguing that Congress shouldn’t approve additional aid to Ukraine “unless it is done as a loan.”
A report in the Washington Post earlier this month also alleged that Trump has been workshopping a plan that would see Ukraine give up Crimea and the Donbas region to Russia in exchange for a cease-fire.
The Trump campaign vehemently denied the report.
Duda and Trump share common ground in their insistence that NATO members spend more money on defense.
Last month, the Polish president called for all NATO nations to earmark at least 3% of GDP on defense spending because of “growing threats.”
Trump has similarly called for America’s 31 NATO allies to “pay up,” arguing that the US is “paying for most of NATO.”
He ruffled feathers last month after suggesting that if re-elected president he would “encourage” Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” to any NATO member that does not pay enough for defense.
The House of Representatives is expected to vote Saturday on a $95 billion package that includes $60.84 billion in funding to assist Ukraine.
The spending bill is roughly the same size as an aid package that passed the Senate in February but includes “a loan structure for aid, and enhanced strategy and accountability,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Wednesday.
“80% of the spending for Ukraine is replenishment of American weapons and stocks,” the House speaker told CNN.
The measure has the support of President Biden.
Additional reporting by Desheania Andrews
