As world leaders send congratulatory messages to President-elect Donald Trump, their aides are already strategizing on how to arrange potential meetings with Trump in the upcoming months, according to multiple sources familiar with the early planning efforts.
World leaders are considering various options, including traveling to New York or Mar-a-Lago, as they aim to schedule meetings before Trump's January inauguration, sources revealed.
However, concrete plans for these potential meetings have not yet been outlined. Currently, those who have extended their congratulations to Trump are eagerly awaiting responses from him and his team, while also seeking to establish communication with individuals close to Trump, the sources added.
Foreign leaders are drawing from their experiences with Trump during his first term, where flattery and personal attention proved to be effective strategies. This has influenced their approach to Trump following his recent victory.
One foreign diplomat noted that there is now a better understanding of Trump compared to 2016, which contributed to the influx of congratulatory messages even before the election results were officially declared.
The diplomat highlighted a precedent set by the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who promptly traveled to New York after Trump's 2016 victory for a meeting at Trump Tower, presenting a set of gold-plated golf clubs as a congratulatory gift.
