Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk dueled with the U.S. ambassador to Poland after the latter voiced outrage over comments the country’s parliamentary speaker made suggesting President Donald Trump didn’t deserve the Nobel Peace Prize.
On Thursday, U.S. ambassador to Poland Tom Rose announced that the U.S. would be severing all “further dealings, contacts, or communications” with Marshal of the Sejm Włodzimierz Czarzasty, over “outrageous and unprovoked insults” directed against Trump.
The comments, Rose said, have made Czarzasty a “serious impediment to our excellent relations with Prime Minister Tusk and his government. We will not permit anyone to harm U.S.–Polish relations, nor disrespect @realDonaldTrump, who has done so much for Poland and the Polish people.”
Rose then brawled with another user who accused the ambassador of interfering in Polish politics.
“Anyone who insults and denigrates my president is interfering in my politics!! You do not tolerate being insulted and neither will we,” he said.
Czarzasty has been critical of Trump previously, but his most recent comments touched a nerve. Responding to Trump’s threats to take Greenland and tariffs, the Sejm Marshal denounced the president as following a “policy of force” in international affairs, saying it made him unworthy of the Nobel Peace Prize.
“This is a breach of the politics of principles and values, often a breach of international law,” he told reporters.
He also repeatedly bashed Trump’s downplaying of other NATO allies’ roles in the Global War on Terror, framing his criticism of Trump around respect for Polish veterans.
Czarzasty stood defiant after Rose’s rebuke, saying he wouldn’t take back his comments.
“In line with my values, I stood up for Polish soldiers fighting on missions and did not support the nomination of President @realDonaldTrump for the Nobel Peace Prize,” he said in a post on X. “I consistently respect the USA as Poland’s key partner. That is why I regretfully accept the statement by Ambassador Tom Rose, but I will not change my position on these fundamental issues for Polish women and men.”
Tusk stepped into the dispute on X, taking the side of his governing coalition ally.
“Mr. Ambassador Rose, allies should respect each other, not lecture each other,” Tusk said in a post on X. “At least this is how we, here in Poland, understand partnership.”
Rose responded with a lengthy post in a notably more respectful, though still hostile, tone than his post against Czarzasty.
“I’m assuming your thoughtful and well-articulated message was sent to me by mistake, because surely you intended it for the Speaker of the Sejm, Włodzimierz Czarzasty, who’s despicable, disrespectful and insulting comments about President Trump @POTUS were so potentially damaging to your government.
“Mr. Prime Minister, I have nothing but the greatest respect and admiration for your lifetime of bold leadership and for your decades of contributions that strengthened the U.S.–Poland relationship,” Rose wrote. “You Sir have truly been a model ally and great friend of the United States.”
He then voiced his assurance that Tusk agreed that any insults or denigrating rhetoric toward Trump, “the greatest friend Poland has ever had in the White House,” was the last thing a Polish leader should do. He repeated his vow to always defend the U.S. president without “hesitation, exception or apology.”
The situation deteriorated further when Polish MP Roman Giertych stepped into the ring. One of the most enigmatic figures in Polish politics, the former deputy prime minister under a right-wing government, has since taken a left-wing turn, now in the Sejm as part of the liberal Tusk’s governing coalition.
In a lengthy post on X, Giertych said Rose was being “completely outrageous,” compared Trump to the infamous Roman emperor Nero, and demanded he resign.
“Your President first insulted Polish soldiers and then demands support for his dreams of receiving the Nobel Prize,” he said. “The times when Nero, under threat of punishment, demanded recognition for his musical talents have been regarded as the beginning of the decline of the Roman Empire. From the Polish perspective, Donald Trump’s efforts to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize … are similar to Nero’s demands for awards and praise.
“If you do not like the Polish authorities, please change your job,” Giertych said. “In Poland, Poles will democratically decide who holds the highest offices. Please come to terms with that. And please tell your President to apologize to Polish soldiers, and especially to the families of those of our heroes who fell while carrying out a NATO defense mission.”
Not all of Poland was united against Rose. Polish Minister of the European Parliament, Dominik Tarczynski, appeared to back Rose, quoting him on X, saying, “communists have always harmed Poland. Always.”
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Trump has enjoyed a positive relationship with Poland during his two terms in office, despite some friction with his recent skepticism toward NATO. Last year, the conservative historian Karol Nawrocki, an outspoken ally of Trump, won the presidential election, cementing the country as a close friend for Trump’s second term.
Despite the recent controversy, Rose has been perceived largely positively in Poland over his virulent defense of Polish history. His defense of Poland’s actions during World War II and denial of any Polish role in the Holocaust has driven outrage from Israel, especially on account of his Jewish heritage, while winning him praise in Poland.
