The leader of France’s far-right National Front party, Marine Le Pen, was seen in Trump Tower in Manhattan on Thursday.
Le Pen, who in November called President-elect Donald Trump’s victory a “sign of hope” for people who are against globalization, was not on a readout of meetings provided to the press earlier Thursday. Sean Spicer, the incoming White House press secretary, said neither Trump nor anyone else from the transition team will meet with her. Spicer has also said recently that Trump would not be meeting with any foreign leaders prior to the Inauguration.
“Trump Tower is open to the public,” he said.
Le Pen, who is widely expected to be a front-runner in France’s presidential elections this year, has blamed globalization and wide-scale international migration for causing conflicts around the world.
She has led the National Front since 2011, attempting to “detoxify” the party somewhat of its reputation for racism and xenophobia, focusing instead on anti-EU and anti-immigration policies.
Trump has met with other far-right European leaders. He appeared several times with Brexiteer and former UKIP leader, Nigel Farge, on the campaign trail, and the leader of Italy’s conservative Northern League party met Trump at a rally in Philadelphia last year.
Trump has garnered praise from other controversial far-right leaders such as the Netherlands’ Geert Wilders and Le Pen’s father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, a former National Front leader.