Nationalist Karol Nawrocki’s visit to White House exposes divisions with Poland’s government and foreign policy
Poland’s conservative nationalist president is due to meet Donald Trump at the White House in a visit that has prompted fresh tensions with the nation’s pro-European government led by Donald Tusk.
Backed by the populist rightwing opposition Law and Justice party, which ruled Poland between 2015 and 2023, Karol Nawrocki unexpectedly won Poland’s presidential election after running a campaign under a Trumpesque slogan of “Poland first, Poles first”.
The historian turned politician had met the US president before the election, securing his highly prized endorsement and presenting himself as someone who could safeguard Poland’s interests with the conservative US administration. When he won, Trump posted on Truth Social: “Such a great win in Poland by Karol Nawrocki. He will be a great president!”
Nawrocki’s visit to the White House on Wednesday will be his first overseas trip since taking office last month, and the first serious test of his foreign policy credentials.
