Romanian Candidate Brandishes Trump Messaging in Presidency Bid

A Romanian presidential contender echoed warnings from Donald Trump’s administration that Sunday’s election must refrain from “censoring opponents,” laying bare how the US president looms over the Black Sea nation’s contentious ballot.

Former Prime Minister Victor Ponta, who has positioned himself as a staunch Trump ally in the contest for Romania’s presidency, said Washington needs reassurance that the country’s democratic standards meet its expectations. He called a message posted by the US Embassy in Bucharest a “clear warning” to Romanian authorities.