Donald Trump personally intervened with the Pentagon to reverse plans that would have reduced U.S. military presence in Poland, according to reporting by the Wall Street Journal based on multiple defense sources.
The U.S. president questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a recent phone call about the cancellation of planned troop rotations to Poland, sources said. Trump told Hegseth that the United States "should not poorly treat" Poland, describing the country as a close NATO ally with strong ties to the White House.
The intervention reveals both Trump's personal involvement in European troop deployment decisions and Poland's unique position within the administration's reconfigured NATO strategy. In Poland, as across Central Europe, history is never far from the surface—and neither is the memory of occupation.
From Germany to Poland
According to the Wall Street Journal's sources, the Pentagon had initially planned to reduce U.S. military forces in Western Europe by withdrawing troops from Germany, not from Poland. The administration is now considering relocating the 2nd Cavalry Regiment from Vilseck, Germany to Poland—a move that would allow Trump to reduce the U.S. footprint in Western Europe while maintaining a robust presence on NATO's eastern flank.
The shift reflects broader tensions within the administration's approach to European defense. While Trump has consistently criticized NATO allies for insufficient defense spending, Poland has emerged as a notable exception. Warsaw currently spends over 4% of GDP on defense—the highest proportion in NATO—and has repeatedly offered to finance construction of a permanent U.S. military base on Polish soil.
Pentagon Denies Rift
Both the Pentagon and White House moved quickly to dismiss suggestions of any dispute between Trump and Hegseth. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the president "appreciates everything" Hegseth has accomplished while implementing an defense strategy. Pentagon spokesperson confirmed that both officials remain regarding European troop movements.
