Polish politician Roman Giertych calls acting President Karol Nawrocki a coward for failing to defend Polish soldiers against Trump’s remarks.
Giertych’s Accusation
Polish lawmaker Roman Giertych addressed Karol Nawrocki, stating “Mr. Nawrocki, you are a coward” to begin his post. Giertych reminded that 14 days ago Donald Trump “insulted Polish soldiers” by claiming during an interview that soldiers from allied countries, including Poland, “stayed behind” during missions in Afghanistan.
Giertych emphasized that “it has become accepted that if an organization has an obligation to act immediately, then the maximum deadline is 14 days,” criticizing Nawrocki for not defending Polish soldiers’ honor while serving as acting president and commander-in-chief.
Trump’s Controversial Remarks
At the end of January, Donald Trump stated in a Fox News interview that he was not sure if NATO allies would help Americans if needed, saying “I never needed them. They’ll say they sent troops to Afghanistan… and they did, they stayed a bit behind, a bit off the front line.” Many NATO leaders, including from Poland, reacted to his comments.
Nawrocki’s Defense
Karol Nawrocki responded to Trump’s words by writing: “There is no doubt that Polish soldiers are heroes. They deserve respect and words of thanks for their service. In Afghanistan, 44 brave Poles died: 43 soldiers and a civilian.” However, he was criticized for his post appearing too late and for not directly addressing Trump.
Later, Nawrocki stated at a press conference that Trump is aware that “the Polish soldier is always where there is primarily the interest of the Republic, or where there is a NATO allied interest,” adding that Trump praised Polish soldiers as “great warriors” during their meeting in Davos.
