Poland Stand with President Trump: ‘We Have the Same Position as Americans — We Want Strict Restrictions on Refugees’
The nation of Poland prepared a hero’s welcome for U.S. President Donald Trump in advance of his Wednesday night arrival in Warsaw. But the Polish government executed a decidedly understated ceremony to greet Air Force One at Chopin Airport.
Lawmakers in the formerly communist nation see in Trump a mirror of their own brand of nationalism that has seen many Poles bristle against an iron-fisted European Union centered on Germany.
Among the European nations, Poland is one of the holdouts against the notion of resettling massive numbers of foreigners.
‘The Polish government has the same position as Americans — we want strict restrictions on refugees,” legislator Krzysztof Mróz told The Wall Street Journal.
For Trump’s arrival, President Andrzej Duda sent his top aides to put on a far smaller affair than the all-out pomp and circumstance that awaited the U.S. leader in Saudi Arabia when he deplaned on his first foreign presidential trip six weeks ago.
Instead of a lengthy rifle-bearing honor guard, the president saw only 10 Polish military members at attention.
A red carpet, his signature Cadillac limousine nicknamed ‘The Beast,’ and a smallish retinue of Polish officials – one bearing a bouquet of flowers for first lady Melania Trump – were waiting.
Foreign Affairs Minister Witold Waszczykowski, and Minister of State Krzysztof Szczerski led the delegation, with U.S. Ambassador Paul Jones in tow.
While White House staff and reporters filed out through a rear door, the president and Mrs. Trump descended a staircase to greet the smallish welcoming party.
Mrs Trump., wearing a green coat, waved to the media – who were present in greater numbers than the dignitaries.
Following the first couple were Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, the president’s daughter and son-in-law – holding hands and smiling – along with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and other officials.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster also made the trip, the White House said.