David Cameron Reaches Out to Trump, Taking a Risk on His U.S. Trip

2 years ago 219

Europe|Cameron, on U.S. Trip, Takes a Risk and Meets With Trump

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/09/world/europe/david-cameron-trump-ukraine-israel.html

U.S.WorldBusinessArtsLifestyleOpinionAudioGamesCookingWirecutterThe Athletic

You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.

David Cameron, the British foreign secretary, said he spoke with Donald Trump, the former, and possibly future, president, about Ukraine and the Israel-Gaza conflict.

David Cameron, the British foreign secretary, in a blue suit, speaking and gesturing.

The British foreign secretary, David Cameron, speaking during a joint news conference with the U.S. secretary of state, Antony J. Blinken, at the State Department in Washington on Tuesday.Credit...Mandel Ngan/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

When Britain’s foreign secretary, David Cameron, went to Washington on Tuesday, he made all the usual stops, from the State Department to Capitol Hill. But it was his pilgrimage to Palm Beach, Fla., where he met former President Donald J. Trump for dinner on Monday evening at Mar-a-Lago, that grabbed most of the attention.

Mr. Cameron is the first top British government official to meet with Mr. Trump since he left the White House. His visit — ostensibly to cajole Mr. Trump into backing additional American military aid to Ukraine — attests to Mr. Trump’s influence over a far-right faction of House Republicans who have been holding up a vote.

It also underscores how the electoral calendar is affecting political dynamics on both sides of the Atlantic. Mr. Cameron, a onetime prime minister, has emerged as almost a shadow British leader abroad, standing in for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is busy with a looming general election at home.

In traveling to meet Mr. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Mr. Cameron was reaching out to a once, and potentially future, American president — one whose jaundiced views on Ukraine are seen as the biggest hurdle to the continuation of much-needed American aid for the Ukrainian military.

“We had a good meeting,” Mr. Cameron said of Mr. Trump, while standing alongside Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken after their own session at the State Department on Tuesday. “It was a private meeting.”

Image

At his news conference with Mr. Blinken, Mr. Cameron, left, acknowledged that he viewed his visits to Capitol Hill with “great trepidation,” noting that, “It’s not for foreign politicians to tell legislators in another country what to do.”Credit...Kevin Wolf/Associated Press

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber? Log in.

Want all of The Times? Subscribe.

Read Entire Article