Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaks about his time in DC, including last night's 75th Nato reception. Video / RNZ, Claire Trevett
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met United States President Joe Biden and new British leader Sir Keir Starmer for the first time during a “wonderful” dinner at the White House.
He also interacted with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said today on X, formerly Twitter, that he valued the partnership between the two countries which proved “geographical distance does not matter”.
Luxon thanked Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for hosting Nato allies and partner countries for dinner, saying it was a “very enjoyable evening.
“I had a wonderful night at the White House ... I had the pleasure of talking with the President who expressed his love for New Zealand,” Luxon said.
“It was also good to chat with Sir Keir Starmer and congratulate him on his election victory, and to reconnect with Prime Minister Kishida [Fumio Kishida of Japan] who I had visited in Tokyo a few weeks ago.”
Luxon said he also met the “delightful” Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, with whom he discussed “all things Hobbit”.
World leaders gather for the White House dinner during the Nato summit in Washington DC. Photo / White House
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at the White House dinner for world leaders during the Nato summit in Washington DC. Photo / White House
He also got meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas today.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joins other world leaders before the White House dinner during the Nato summit in Washington DC. Photo / White House
He had spent the morning back on Capitol Hill meeting with Republican Senator Bill Hagerty and Congressman Jason Smith, who chairs the Ways and Means Committee.
He was also due to meet high-profile Texas Senator Ted Cruz, but that was cancelled because Cruz could not return from Texas in time. Asked whether Cruz was the most influential of those he had been scheduled to meet, Luxon noted others might disagree.
“I’m sure many other senators would argue they were just as influential, if not more. This is a place of large egos.”
During his meetings with the Republicans, Luxon was once again confronted with questions about Biden after an opinion piece by George Clooney – a lifelong Democrat – calling on the US President to step aside and make way for a new nominee.
Luxon deflected, suggesting Clooney be cast as his Police Minister Mark Mitchell in the event there was a movie about Mitchell’s life.
Tomorrow, Luxon will be chairing the meeting of the Indo-Pacific Four – Australia, Korea, Japan and New Zealand – which Zelenskyy will also attend.
