Poland’s new president, Karol Nawrocki, is heading to Washington on Wednesday, September 3 for his first foreign visit, where he will meet Donald Trump at the White House—without any representatives from the government in his delegation.
The move has deepened tensions between Nawrocki—a conservative nationalist backed by Poland’s right-wing opposition—and the centrist government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The foreign ministry said it had offered to send Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, noting that past presidents had included ministry officials on U.S. visits.
But Nawrocki’s chancellery chief, Zbigniew Bogucki, dismissed the criticism, arguing there was “no such custom” and accused the government of having “disgraced itself” with critical remarks about Trump.
Nawrocki wants to “restore good relations with the U.S., which this government lacks,” he said.
In mid-August, Trump snubbed Tusk by asking Nawrocki—just days into office—to represent Poland in a high-level video call on Ukraine, sidelining the prime minister despite his earlier participation in preparatory talks with European leaders.
The government has cautioned against “two foreign policies serving one country,” but Nawrocki’s allies insist the president is better placed to rebuild ties with Washington.
Trump, who openly endorsed Nawrocki during the Polish presidential election campaign, has welcomed him warmly, while his advisers have criticised Tusk’s handling of U.S. relations.
