President Donald Trump has reversed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision to cancel the deployment of 5,000 U.S. troops to a base in Poland. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was “pleased to announce that the United States will be sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland” based on the election of President Karol Nawrocki, who is aligned with the right-wing Law and Justice party.
Hegseth had earlier ordered the Pentagon to hold back a planned rotation of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division for a nine-month stay in Poland. That decision followed Hegseth’s order to withdraw 5,000 U.S. personnel from bases in Germany, after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly criticised the U.S. handling of the war with Iran.
The cancellation concerned American officials, including members of Congress, who expressed surprise and complained about not being consulted. Lawmakers from both parties criticised the reduction as sending the wrong signal to allies and to Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chair of the House Armed Services Committee, said his committee was “not happy” about the decision. Vice President J.D. Vance, however, described the non-deployment as “a very small and very minor thing” and accused European media of overreacting.
Days later, Trump overruled Hegseth after a phone call reported by The Wall Street Journal. Trump told Hegseth that America should not mistreat Poland, a strong ally. White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said Trump “appreciates all the secretary has done,” while Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Trump and Hegseth “communicate constantly and are in lockstep.”
