In Afghanistan, 44 brave Poles fell: 43 soldiers and a civilian. Polish soldiers are Heroes. They deserve respect and words of gratitude for their service, wrote President Karol Nawrocki in response to the words of President Donald Trump. Other leading Polish politicians also reacted, including numerous representatives of the ruling coalition. Minister from the President’s Chancellery, Adam Andruszkiewicz, reminded the current government that they have not always defended the Polish uniform.
On Thursday, Trump said in an interview with Fox News that the United States never needed NATO’s help and “never really asked” its allies for anything.
“You know, they will say they sent troops to Afghanistan or Sudan, and they did. The others stayed a bit behind, a bit away from the front lines,” added the American leader.
Polish politicians opposed Trump’s words. President Nawrocki also spoke out, including in English.
“There is no doubt that Polish soldiers are Heroes. They deserve respect and words of gratitude for their service. In Afghanistan, 44 brave Poles fell: 43 soldiers and a civilian. They will forever remain in our memory!” wrote President Nawrocki in both Polish and English on X.
Andruszkiewicz to the Ruling Party: Where Were You?
In response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s words, representatives of the ruling coalition, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, spoke out loudly.
“American officers said that America will never forget Polish heroes,” Tusk reminded.
“The sacrifice of Polish soldiers will never be forgotten and cannot be diminished,” emphasized Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. He also assured that “Poland has always been, is, and will be a responsible and reliable ally” and published a list of the fallen.
In response to the posts of ruling politicians, Adam Andruszkiewicz reminded them of Władysław Frasyniuk’s words about the defenders of Polish borders. “Where were you, outraged, today, ruling from Civic Platform (KO), when Polish soldiers were called ‘garbage’ by your man on your favorite station?” he recalled.
He accused them of cynically exploiting the current situation.
“You are exploiting today’s situation purely cynically. Some to vent their personal, ideological frustrations – others in the name of German geopolitical interests,” wrote the Deputy Head of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland.
Former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki expressed support for President Nawrocki’s words. “It is our duty to safeguard the dignity of the Polish uniform and to show lasting gratitude to soldiers and their families,” the politician wrote.