Lithuanian PM denies asking foreign minister to arrange meeting with Trump

Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė has denied reports that she instructed Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys to organise a meeting with former US President Donald Trump, calling the claims “untrue,” LRT reports.

“It’s not true. I’m not just denying it—it’s false,” Ruginienė told news portal 15min in an interview published Friday, when asked whether she had given Budrys such a directive.

Earlier, news outlet Delfi, citing unnamed sources, reported that Budrys had been tasked with arranging a meeting between Ruginienė and Trump. If unsuccessful, the prime minister allegedly sought a meeting with US vice-presidential candidate JD Vance instead.

Ruginienė previously dismissed the reports as “rumours,” declining to comment further. In a late-March interview with TV3, she criticised the spread of anonymous claims, stating: “I really don’t want to comment on various rumours. Today, we see countless baseless stories circulating in the public space, often from unclear sources or anonymous leaks.”

The prime minister has emphasised her commitment to an active foreign policy, frequently undertaking official visits and representing Lithuania at the European Council.