U.S. cuts contact with Polish parliament speaker over Trump ‘insults’ and Nobel nomination refusal

The U.S. ambassador in Warsaw announced on Thursday that he is severing all contact with Poland’s parliament speaker, accusing him of delivering “outrageous and unprovoked insults” against President Donald Trump.

The move stems from the speaker’s sharp criticism of Trump’s policies and his refusal to endorse an international push to nominate the U.S. leader for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.

Trump trolls parliaments across Europe seeking Nobel Peace Prize nomination

Ambassador Tom Rose’s decision highlights the delicate tightrope walked by politicians in Poland’s pro-European coalition government, who must maintain strong ties with their key NATO ally while grappling with Trump’s “America First” agenda, which has unnerved many in Europe. The public spat, unfolding largely on social media platform X, prompted a pointed response from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

“Mr. Ambassador Rose, allies should respect, not lecture, each other. At least this is how we here in Poland understand partnership,” Tusk posted.

Mr.Ambassador Rose, allies should respect, not lecture, each other. At least this is how we, here in Poland, understand partnership.
Panie Ambasadorze Rose, sojusznicy powinni się szanować, a nie pouczać. Przynajmniej tak w Polsce rozumiemy partnerstwo.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) February 5, 2026

The controversy also exposed rifts between Tusk’s centrist-led administration and the more Trump-aligned nationalist opposition, as well as President Karol Nawrocki. The President’s spokesman, Rafal Leskiewicz, told the PAP news agency: “The current ruling coalition chose as parliamentary speaker a man who does not understand the importance and significance of alliances.”

The trigger: Czarzasty’s stance on Trump’s Nobel bid

Speaker Wlodzimierz Czarzasty, leader of the left-wing New Left party (a junior partner in the coalition), sparked the row on Monday by declaring he would not back a joint initiative from U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. The proposal urges parliamentary leaders worldwide to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his role in Middle East peace efforts, including recent ceasefires in Gaza and broader regional de-escalation.

“In my opinion, President Trump is destabilising the situation in these (international) organisations by representing the politics of force and using force to pursue a transactional policy,” Czarzasty told journalists. “All of this means that I will not support President Trump’s Nobel Prize nomination because he doesn’t deserve it.”

Prezydent Trump nie zasługuje na Pokojową Nagrodę Nobla. pic.twitter.com/Qx5OUOazEA
— Włodzimierz Czarzasty 📚📖 (@wlodekczarzasty) February 2, 2026

Rose fired back on X, stating that Washington would have no further “dealings, contacts, or communications” with Czarzasty, effective immediately. “(Czarzasty’s) outrageous and unprovoked insults directed against President Trump has made himself a serious impediment to our excellent relations with Prime Minister Tusk and his government,” he wrote. “We will not permit anyone to harm U.S.–Polish relations, nor disrespect (Trump) who has done so much for Poland and the Polish people.”

Czarzasty responded on X, expressing regret over the ambassador’s reaction but standing firm: “I regret the ambassador’s reaction but would not change his position on fundamental issues.”

Background: U.S. pressure campaign for Trump’s Nobel nomination

This diplomatic flare-up is part of a broader U.S.-led effort to secure Trump’s nomination for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, following his unsuccessful bids in previous years. Trump, who has long coveted the award – famously claiming during his first term that he deserved it for brokering deals like the Abraham Accords – has intensified lobbying since returning to office in 2025. His administration argues that Trump’s “peace through strength” approach has ended or de-escalated conflicts in regions like the Middle East, Ukraine, and Southeast Asia, including recent Gaza ceasefires and Iran nuclear talks.

The campaign gained momentum in early 2026 when Johnson and Ohana sent letters to parliamentary speakers worldwide, urging collective nominations to recognize Trump’s “commitment to dialogue, diplomacy, and global leadership.” Nominations for the Nobel can come from eligible figures like lawmakers, academics, or past laureates, and multiple endorsements can bolster a candidate’s profile, though the Norwegian Nobel Committee makes the final decision independently.

Trump’s team, including envoys like Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has applied diplomatic pressure on European allies, tying the issue to broader U.S. policy demands. This has included linking the Nobel snub to aggressive stances on issues like Greenland acquisition and tariffs, with Trump messaging Norway’s prime minister that the 2025 award denial freed him from “thinking purely of peace.” Critics, including European leaders and analysts, view the push as “Orwellian,” given Trump’s support for actions like arms sales to Israel amid Gaza conflicts and his pro-Russia leanings in Ukraine.

Polls show widespread European scepticism: A recent survey found most EU citizens view Trump’s global role negatively and believe he does not deserve the prize. Some allies, like Israel and certain non-EU nations (e.g., Cambodia, Pakistan), have voiced support, but the campaign has strained transatlantic relations.

European countries’ reactions to the nomination pressure

Responses from other European nations have varied, reflecting domestic politics, alliances with the U.S., and views on Trump’s foreign policy. Here’s a list of notable reactions based on public statements and actions:

Lithuania: Parliamentary leadership received the letter but has not endorsed it, with Speaker Eugenijus Gentvilas indicating no decision yet amid public scrutiny.

Latvia: Speaker Daiga Mierinja signed the appeal, but faced domestic backlash for acting unilaterally without broader consultation.

Ukraine: Parliament overwhelmingly rejected (318 against out of 450) a motion to support Trump’s nomination, citing risks to sovereignty amid the ongoing war.

Norway: Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasized the Nobel Committee’s independence after Trump’s message linking the 2025 snub to Greenland demands; no endorsement from parliament.

Broader EU: Leaders like European Council President Antonio Costa expressed “readiness to defend ourselves against coercion,” with an emergency summit planned; general resistance to politicizing the Nobel.

With Reuters, with additional content by g.g.

Caption: US President Donald J Trump arrives to present ‘TrumpRx,’ in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House Campus in Washington, DC, USA, 5 February 2026. The new government-hosted platform, TrumpRx.gov, is launched to facilitate purchases of prescription medications at discounted prices, according to the White House. EPA/AARON SCHWARTZ / POOL