Nawrocki in US for Trump birthday, criticises government over 'anti-American narrative'

Washington visit for Trump's birthday

President Karol Nawrocki flew to the United States on Saturday, 13 June, on the invitation of President Donald Trump, who turned 80 on Sunday, 14 June. The centrepiece of the celebrations was a special UFC mixed martial arts gala, UFC Freedom 250, held on the White House lawn, marking also the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Before the event, Nawrocki attended Mass at a Polish church in Silver Spring, Maryland, and used the occasion to deliver carefully prepared remarks to accompanying journalists.

Permanent US troop presence as strategic aim

Speaking to the media, Nawrocki made clear that Poland’s overriding objective is a permanent stationing of US forces. “The more American soldiers in Poland, the better. Permanent US troop presence is our goal,” he said. He stressed that Donald Trump does not need convincing, because Trump “regularly repeats that Poland is an exemplary ally of the United States. He greatly values our personal relationship, but also values the Polish nation, our history, our defence spending, our soldiers who have taken part in American and NATO missions.”

The more American soldiers in Poland, the better. Permanent US troop presence is our goal.

Nawrocki added that he would wish Trump health and the determination to continue appreciating Poland as the most important ally in central Europe.

Government's "anti‑American narrative"

The president did not conceal his frustration with the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. He said there is “often a problem with the anti‑American narrative of many important politicians in Poland and the Polish government.” He complained that agreements he reaches with Trump at the highest level are not being executed by the cabinet. He pointed to “problems in the statements of the Polish marshal, or the gestures and statements of the Polish prime minister,” and to what he described as a “dramatic” state of public finances, referring to Finance Minister Andrzej Domański’s stewardship, which hampers the implementation of the so‑called Fort Trump project.

There is often a problem with the anti‑American narrative of many important politicians in Poland and the Polish government.

Itinerary and meetings

On Monday, 15 June, Nawrocki is scheduled to meet Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Capitol Hill. He also plans to visit the Polish community at the John Paul II Centre in Clearwater, Florida. White House channels indicated that a formal bilateral meeting with Trump was not on the official calendar, but Marcin Przydacz, head of the Presidential International Policy Bureau, assured reporters that a one‑on‑one conversation would still take place, its final shape dependent on Trump’s schedule. Trump was due to leave for the G7 summit in France immediately after the UFC evening.

Mocking polls on social media

Ahead of the trip, a spat broke out on X between Sikorski and Przydacz. Sikorski published a poll asking what the president should do with public money in the US: “remind about [former minister Zbigniew] Ziobro” or “ask for asylum for Ziobro” – the first option collected 77.1% of votes. Przydacz retorted with his own poll offering gifts to bring Sikorski from Washington: “greetings from the gardener,” “a model of the White House,” or “nothing, he misses [Sergei] Lavrov.” The third answer, linking Sikorski to the Russian foreign minister, gathered 48.4%.