Donald Trump Jr, the eldest son of US president visited Bucharest as part of a high-profile business tour of Central and Eastern Europe, featuring stops in Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.
The tour, branded “Trump Business Vision 2025”, aims mainly to expand the Trump family’s commercial interests and foster deeper ties with regional political and business leaders – as well as to promote the US as a business partner over China.
But Trump junior’s presence in the region is also seen as a show of support for right-wing governments and policies, and a move by the Trump brand to tap into political markets which are increasingly distancing themselves from Western European mainstream.
Trump Jr was the keynote speaker at the “Trump Business Vision 2025” conference in Bucharest on Monday, an event that is designed to promote strategic dialogue between American and Romanian business communities.
The visit which comes in the final week of Romania’s presidential campaign, is strictly business, with no announced meetings with government officials or leaders from the ruling coalition.
Romanian presidential candidate Victor Ponta highlighted his connection with Trump Jr as part of his campaign ahead of the May first round.
EX-Premier Ponta on Sunday traveled to Sofia, Bulgaria, where he met with Trump Jr and used the meeting to project an image of international relevance and strong ties to influential figures abroad.
His campaign circulated photos of the encounter in a bid to boost support and connecting himself to a leader with global connections.
Front-runner George Simion is also a supporter of Trump.
On Friday, in Hungary, Trump Jr participated in a closed-door business forum and met the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Peter Szijjarto.
Donald Trump Jr outlined his mission, saying he was looking for allies of the Trump administration among people and countries who “share our values and beliefs.
“I see the region as the last bastion of hope,” he said.
