Mayor of Chișinău Meets Donald Trump Jr. in BucharestCEFR B2
30 Apr 2025
Adapted from Daria Dergacheva, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Marek Studzinski, Unsplash
The sequence began with a social media post by Ion Ceban, mayor of Chișinău, on April 28 that showed him alongside Donald Trump Jr. The photo was first published in Russian on April 29 on NewsMaker.Md and later translated and republished by Global Voices, which brought wider attention to the meeting and its caption, a variation of a slogan popularized by US President Donald Trump.
Ceban said the two met at an event in Bucharest, discussed "a number of topics, including relations between Moldova and the United States," and "agreed to continue the dialogue." Donald Trump Jr.'s visit to Bucharest was part of a regional European tour covering Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria and Serbia; Romanian media reported the stated purpose was to expand the Trump family's business interests and to strengthen ties with conservative political allies. In Bucharest he attended a business event organized by businessman Adrian Thiess before traveling on to Sofia.
The photograph quickly provoked debate on social media. Some commentators pointed to already complicated ties between Moldovan authorities and Washington after Donald Trump became US President; others saw the meeting as a potential signal of US support for Moldova's opposition. At the same time, Moldova is coping with an abrupt suspension of USAID programmes. Since 1992 the country had received nearly USD 2.5 billion in USAID funding for work in areas such as:
- education, tourism and agriculture
- industry and information technology
- public administration and justice reform
- anti-corruption, energy development and road infrastructure
- media and civil society
The suspension has forced the Moldovan government and NGOs to seek alternative funding from Europe and has affected construction of a high-voltage line between Romania and Moldova, putting energy security at risk. Politically, Reuters reported in February that an opposition coalition called the "Alternative" will unite Ceban's party, former prime minister Ion Chicu's party and former lawmaker Marc Tcaciuc's party; the coalition supports European integration and criticizes President Maia Sandu and her PAS party as inefficient and ignoring the public interest. The post also drew mockery online, including the comment "Make Ceban Smart Again!"
Difficult words
- suspension — temporary stopping of an activity or support
- programme — organized set of projects or services by an agencyprogrammes
- funding — money provided for a particular project or purpose
- infrastructure — basic physical systems and structures for a country
- civil society — groups and organizations outside government and business
- energy security — reliable and affordable supply of energy to a country
- coalition — group of parties or people working together politically
- opposition — political groups that challenge the current government
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How might the photograph of Ceban with Donald Trump Jr. affect public opinion in Moldova and abroad?
- What problems could the USAID programme suspension create for Moldova, and what funding alternatives might help replace the lost support?
- Why do you think different media described Donald Trump Jr.'s visit in various ways (business interests, political ties)? Give reasons.
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