William Donahue, President of College Republicans of America, announced his endorsement of George Simion for President of Romania during a recent visit to Cluj-Napoca. The meeting comes at a pivotal moment in Romanian politics, as the country faces mounting public distrust in traditional parties and increased pressure from European institutions.

Donahue praised Simion, leader of the nationalist-conservative AUR party, as a principled advocate for national sovereignty, democratic accountability, and cultural integrity.

"George Simion is a fighter for faith, family, and national sovereignty,” Donahue said. “He represents a new European right that is patriotic, democratic, and unafraid. Romania deserves a president who will stand up for its people — and the world needs leaders who are willing to build a conservative alliance that defends Western values from Brussels to Washington."

Simion, a member of the European Parliament and head of the nationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), is seen as a leading contender in Romania’s upcoming presidential election. His campaign has gained momentum following the collapse of Cristian Georgescu’s candidacy, which faltered amid scandal and a loss of public confidence in establishment politics.

Donahue used the occasion to call for stronger cooperation among conservatives globally, noting that the challenges faced by nations like Romania — from EU overreach to cultural erosion — mirror those in the United States. Donahue and Simion discussed the future of youth engagement, policy alignment between Europe and America, and the urgent need for what Donahue described as a “transatlantic conservative renaissance.” Their meeting symbolized a growing trend: conservative leaders bypassing traditional elites to forge direct alliances based on shared principles.

Simion, visibly moved by the gesture, thanked Donahue for his support and emphasized the importance of standing together: “Our peoples have suffered under communism, under globalism, and now under bureaucratic tyranny. Together, we will restore sovereignty, faith, and honor.”

The visit was brief but symbolic, reflecting a growing awareness among American conservative youth leaders of political movements abroad that share similar goals and values.