Trump Advisers Meet Officials on UN Sidelines as US Election Approaches – Reuters

By Gram Slattery and Simon Lewis

Some advisors to Donald Trump are engaging with foreign officials during the United Nations General Assembly, as U.S. allies seek to understand the implications of a potential Trump victory in the upcoming November 5 election on U.S. foreign policy.

Details about who is meeting with these advisors or the specifics of the discussions remain unclear. Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, served as president from 2017 to 2021.

Typically, Trump’s foreign policy team avoids advocating for specific policies in private discussions and refrains from actions that could undermine the current administration of President Joe Biden, a Democrat.

Robert O’Brien, who was Trump’s final national security adviser, organized a reception for high-ranking diplomats on Monday night in Midtown Manhattan, according to an informed source.

Additionally, Mike Pompeo, who held the positions of CIA director and secretary of state under Trump, is expected to host a separate reception on Tuesday night, with former Trump administration ambassadors likely in attendance.

The Trump campaign did not comment on the meetings with foreign officials, and a spokesperson for Pompeo also did not respond to inquiries.

Recent opinion polls indicate a competitive race between Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, and Trump in battleground states crucial for victory. A recent survey shows Harris with a seven-point lead nationwide.

A former national security adviser to Trump noted that he has received as many as six meeting requests daily from foreign officials, particularly from Central and Eastern Europe.

In recent weeks, Trump has decreased his interactions with foreign leaders. Some advisors have suggested he limit such meetings to maintain focus on his campaign and avoid any negative press during the final days of the race.

Trump had intended to meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda at a Polish-American Catholic shrine in Pennsylvania but the campaign called off the joint appearance.

While Trump mentioned at a recent rally that he intended to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and indicated a probable meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, those discussions have yet to occur.

At a rally in Pennsylvania on Monday evening, Trump claimed that Zelenskiy wanted the Democrats to win the upcoming election.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Washington and its allies have provided substantial assistance to Ukraine and imposed multiple sanctions on Moscow.

Trump has frequently criticized U.S. aid to Ukraine, labeling it as wasteful and expressing reluctance to endorse Ukraine’s victory, which has raised concerns among Central and Eastern European nations. His supporters believe he possesses the skills necessary to negotiate a peace agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a statement, Trump’s campaign reiterated a past claim from Trump, stating he is “the only one who can get the war (in Ukraine) stopped.”