After Donald Trump announced sending 5,000 troops to Poland, his defense secretary found himself in a compromising situation. What's more: the first demands for resignation appear. This is demanded by General Ben Hodges, former commander of American forces in Europe. Everything indicates that dark clouds are gathering over Hegseth, a loyal Trump ally.
The fact is that Trump was apparently not privy to the Pentagon's decision. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, citing two American officials, the US president was clearly irritated and even reprimanded Hegseth during a telephone conversation. The president wanted to find out from the defense secretary why the sending of soldiers to Poland had been suspended – only to later reprimand him.
The president explained to Hegseth that The United States should not mistreat Poland. After all, Warsaw is a close ally of Washington. However, he did not mention that Trump and Polish President Karol Nawrocki, elected last year, get along well. The outrage in Warsaw over the suspension of the troop shipment threatened to put a huge strain on bilateral relations – hence the 180-degree turn, after just two days!
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In Poland, the culprit was identified a long time ago. During a discussion organized by POLITICO (belonging, like Onet, to the Axel Springer group) in Prague, a high-ranking adviser to Nawrocki attributed this diplomatic disaster to “chaotic communication” and “misunderstanding in the Pentagon.”
Former US general Ben Hodges also assumed that either the White House and the Pentagon were “incompetent” or there was no communication between them. Of Hegseth, Hodges said he “maybe should resign.”
The former general commanding the United States Army in Europe believes that eventually Republican pressure on Trump has become too much. The Pentagon's decision also surprised them. Republican congressman Don Bacon criticized the fact that the Polish government was not even informed about it in advance – and called it “an embarrassment to our country”. That Trump now openly opposes Hegseth weakens the defense secretary even more than he already does.
Trump and Hegseth are going “in the same direction”
Calls for Hegseth's resignation are not emerging for the first time. In October last year complained to military officials about the “woke culture” in the U.S. military — and questioned women's ability to participate in combat operations. In response, Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth called him “the least qualified secretary of defense in history” — and demanded his resignation. The war with Iran is not going smoothly either.
Yet the White House continues to try to limit the damage. Spokeswoman Anna Kelly explained: “President Trump appreciates everything the Secretary has done — and will continue to do — to implement the America First agenda in our armed forces.” The Pentagon reported that Trump and Hegseth were in constant contact and “acting in concert” regarding the movement of troops in Europe. But the question is: for how much longer?
The second thing: Zbigniew Ziobro
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski told POLITICO on Saturday during the GLOBSEC forum in Prague, that Warsaw perceives granting an American visa to former Minister of Justice Zbigniew Ziobro as political interference.
The Deputy Prime Minister added that he personally conveyed Poland's “expressions of dissatisfaction” to a high-ranking American official.
Sikorski said Ziobro, who faces 26 criminal charges in Poland, obtained a journalist's visa “under false pretenses.” – He is not a journalist – emphasized Sikorski, adding that Ziobro announced on social media that he would go to the USA to organize the Polish diaspora movement.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
