President Karol Nawrocki – meeting with the Polish community at the John Paul II Center, Clearwater, Florida
President Karol Nawrocki paid a visit to the United States of America
June/ 16/ 2026
Last Sunday, President Karol Nawrocki attended a banquet at the White House, at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump who was celebrating his birthday and the UFC Freedom 250 gala that day. This year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the United States’ Declaration of Independence. He also met with representatives of the Polish American Community.
During a briefing, Marcin Przydacz, Head of the International Policy Bureau (BPM), remarked that President Nawrocki was the only head of state to attend the reception hosted by President Trump. He added that the event brough together prominent American politicians and business representatives. The Polish leader was accompanied by Jan Błachowicz, a Polish athlete and former UFC light heavyweight world champion.
The Minister emphasized that, during the meeting, Presidents Nawrocki and Trump primarily discussed Polish–American relations, including security policy, the presence of American troops and continued arms policy. Moreover, their discussions also focused on the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara.
During the event, the Polish leader also spoke with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and other representatives of the U.S. administration.
Journalists also wished to know whether Donald Trump’s recent declaration regarding build–up of the presence of allied troops in Poland had been addressed. In his reaction to the questions on the subject, Minister Marcin Przydacz stated that 'the White House is fully prepared and open to increasing the presence’. 'Decisions about a permanent presence will also be made at White House level, but only after the Pentagon has carried out the necessary strategic and planning work,’ he added.
Minister Marcin Przydacz – press briefing in Washington
Talking to the reporters, the Minister announced that, upon returning to Warsaw, President Nawrocki would invite Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak–Kamysz to the Presidential Palace to share information obtained in Washington and discuss further steps regarding the presence of allied troops in Poland.
‘The President spoke with the President of the United States but also with the Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, about energy and gas cooperation,’ said Marcin Przydacz.
He pointed out that late April this year, the U.S. Secretary of Energy had participated in the Three Seas Initiative Summit in Dubrovnik, where the issue of intensifying energy cooperation with the United States had been raised, in order to make our region independent from Russian gas supplies to the greatest extent possible.
President Karol Nawrocki – meeting with John Thune, Senate Majority Leader
President Nawrocki also met with Michael Waltz, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations. While at the Capitol, he also met with Republican Majority Leader John Thune. Attending the discussions were Roger Wicker, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, and Jim Risch, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
‘The discussion focused primarily on security policy and the challenges we are facing in the context of the upcoming NATO summit,’ said Minister Marcin Przydacz, adding that Russian policy was also raised.
He noted that President Nawrocki is a strong advocate for increasing sanctions imposed on Russia. According to the BPM Head, continued arming of Ukraine and imposing further sanctions could curb Russia’s aggressive policies. 'In short, without funding, Vladimir Putin will not be able to continue the war,’ he pointed out.
The Minister stressed that key topics of discussion between the Polish and Republican leaders included defense industry cooperation and the presence of US troops in Poland.
President Karol Nawrocki – meeting with the Polish community at the John Paul II Center, Clearwater, Florida
At the end of his visit, President Nawrocki travelled to Florida, where he met with representatives of the Polish American Community at the Polish Center of John Paul II in Clearwater on Tuesday.
“I would like to thank all those who cherish our national memory and care for our language, and who are learning Polish, thereby making us one great, proud nation throughout the world. I would also like to thank those who care about our relations with the United States. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart,” he said.
In his address, the President of Poland referred to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which the United States is celebrating this year.
‘We share two Fathers of Independence with the Americans: Casimir Pulaski and Tadeusz Kościuszko. Thanks to our wonderful Polish Community in Florida, we have a monument to Tadeusz Kościuszko. We also have this magnificent Center dedicated to the Pope who guided Poland in its quest for independence during the communist era and, after 1989, became our moral compass and helped shape our independence in the 1990s. He raised entire generations of Poles who are proud, free and sovereign and know who their friends are,” underscored President Nawrocki.
He added that the national community is built on values and a commitment to the mother tongue. 'It is the language, values, the ability to experience history together and our cultural heritage that define us as a nation, not just our borders,’ he noted.
During the ceremony, President Nawrocki presented state decorations to distinguished Polish diaspora activists.
The Polish Centre of John Paul II in Clearwater is the main Polish community center on Florida’s west coast. Dedicated to integrating Poles, cultivating traditions and supporting education, it has been in operation since 1995. Florida is home to one of the largest Polish communities, with around 450,000 people of Polish ancestry and an estimated 35,000–40,000 Polish citizens.
