US President Donald Trump's speech To the Polish Nation

on Krasinskich Square in Warsaw on July 6, 2017

Thank you. The United States has many excellent diplomats, but truly there is no better ambassador for our country than our wonderful First Lady Melania.

We came to meet the Polish people with a very important message: America loves Poland, America loves Poles.In addition to the fact that Poles have accomplished a lot for the region, Americans of Polish descent have greatly enriched the United States, and I am really proud that they supported me in the 2016 elections.

It is a great honor to stand in this city - at the monument to the Warsaw Uprising - and address the Polish people, being in the Poland that so many generations have dreamed of: safe, strong and free.

President Duda and the wonderful Polish First Lady Agata welcomed us with the extraordinary kindness and cordiality that Poland is famous for around the world. I would like to thank them both, and especially warmly to Prime Minister Beata Szydło.

We are also happy to have former President Lech Walesa, the well-known leader of Solidarity, with us today. On behalf of all Americans, I would also like to thank the entire Polish nation for the hospitality shown to our soldiers in your country.

These soldiers are not only brave defenders of freedom - they are also a symbol of America's commitment to Poland's security and place in a strong and democratic Europe. We are proud to have American, Polish, British and Romanian soldiers here with us.

We have just participated with President Duda in an extremely successful meeting with the leaders of the Trilateral countries. I would like to say to the people of this great region: America seeks to expand cooperation with you.

We will be eager to deepen partnerships and trade with your developing economies. We are committed to ensuring that you have access to alternative energy sources so that Poland and its neighbors are never again held hostage to a sole energy supplier.

Mr. President, I congratulate you, as well as the Croatian President, for your leadership in the form of the historic Trilateral Initiative.

This is my first visit to Central Europe as President - I am delighted that it is taking place right here in this wonderful country. Poland is in the geographical heart of Europe, and more importantly: you can see the soul of Europe in the Polish people. Your nation is great because you are strong with a wonderful spirit.

For two centuries Poland was the victim of constant brutal attacks. But despite the fact that her lands were invaded and occupied and the country disappeared even from the map, you never managed to erase Poland from history or from your hearts. You may not have had your country during those dark times, but you never lost your pride.

That is why I say today with true admiration: from the fields and villages to the magnificent cathedrals and city squares Poland lives, Poland develops, Poland prevails. In spite of all the actions that were to change or destroy your country, in spite of the oppression, you persisted and prevailed.

You are the proud nation of Copernicus, Chopin and St. John Paul II. Poland is a nation of heroes. You are a nation that really knows what it is defending.

The triumph of the Polish spirit over the centuries that have severely afflicted the country gives us all hope for a future in which good triumphs over evil and peace is victorious over war.

For Americans, Poland has always been a symbol of hope - from the dawn of our nation's history. Polish heroes and American patriots fought side by side during our War of Independence and in many subsequent wars. Our soldiers are still serving today in Afghanistan and Iraq, fighting the enemies of all civilization.

America has never given up freedom and independence as the right and destiny of the Polish people - and we never will. Our two countries share a special bond, underpinned by the unique history and character of the nation. This kind of togetherness is only found between people who have fought, shed blood and died for freedom.

Symbols of this friendship can be encountered in America's capital. Just a few steps from the White House have erected monuments commemorating figures with such names as Pulaski and Kosciuszko. The same is true in Warsaw, where street nameplates remind us of George Washington,and where there is a monument to one of the world's greatest heroes, Ronald Reagan.

So I am here today not only to visit an old ally, but to point to it as an example for others who strive for freedom and who wish to find the courage and will to defend our civilization. The history of Poland is the history of a nation that never lost hope, never let itself be broken and never forgot who it is.

You are a nation with more than a thousand years of history. The borders of your country were erased from maps for more than a century - and only a century ago those borders were restored.

In 1920, in a battle known as the Miracle on the Vistula, Poland stopped a Soviet army seeking to conquer Europe.

Nineteen years later, in 1939, you were again invaded - this time from the west by Nazi Germany and from the east by the Soviet Union. Under the double occupation, the Polish people endured an indescribable Gehenna: the Katyn Massacre, the Holocaust, the Warsaw Ghetto and the Ghetto Uprising, the destruction of the beautiful capital and the extermination of almost one-fifth of the population.

The thriving Jewish community - the most numerous in Europe - was reduced to almost nothing as a result of the systematic Nazi murder of Poland's Jewish citizens, and the brutal occupation claimed countless victims.

In the summer of 1944, the Nazi and Soviet armies were preparing to fight a terrible bloody battle in Warsaw. In the hell on earth they faced, the Poles stood up to defend their homeland.

It is a great honor for me to have the veterans and heroes of the Warsaw Uprising beside me. We honor your sacrifice and pledge to always remember your fight for Poland and freedom.

This monument reminds us that more than 150,000 Poles died in a losing battle against oppression. On the other side of the Vistula, Soviet troops stopped - and waited. They watched as the Nazis brutally razed the city to the ground, cruelly murdering men, women and children.

They wanted to annihilate this nation forever, killing the will to survive in it. But no one succeeded in destroying the courage and strength that mark the character of the Poles.

Polish martyr Bishop Michal Kozal expressed it well in the words: "What is more frightening than defeat by arms is the fall of spirit in people."

For four decades of Communist rule, Poland and other enslaved nations of Europe resisted a brutal campaign to destroy freedom, your faith, your laws, your history, your identity - everything that is the essence of your culture and humanity.

Throughout all this time, however, you never lost your spirit. The oppressors tried to break you, but Poland they could not break. And when the day came on June 2, 1979, and when a million Poles gathered at Victory Square for the first mass with the Polish Pope-that day every communist in Warsaw must have realized that the oppressive system would soon collapse. They realized it at that exact moment, when during Pope John Paul II's sermon a million Poles-men, women and children-took up prayer.

They didn't ask for riches. They didn't ask for privileges. With the words of a song, they said three simple words: "We want God."

With these words, the Polish people invoked the promise of a better future. The Poles found new courage to stand up to their persecutors. And they found the words to announce that Poland would be Poland again.

As I stand here today before this faith-filled nation, I can still hear those voices echoing back. They carry a message that is as true today as it ever was. The Polish people, the American people and the nations of Europe are still crying out: WE WANT GOD.

Together with Pope John Paul II, the Poles strengthened their identity as a nation dedicated to God. And with this emphatic declaration of who you are, you understood what needed to be done. Bound together by solidarity, you spoke out against oppression, against the secret police operating illegally, and against the cruel and wicked system that was impoverishing your cities and your souls.

And you won. Poland has won. Poland will always win!

In this victory over communism, you were supported by a strong alliance of free nations in the West that defied tyranny. And now, among NATO's most dedicated members, Poland has returned to its place as Europe's leading strong, indivisible and free country.

A strong Poland is a blessing for the nations of Europe, as is well known. And a strong Europe is a blessing for the West and the entire world.

One hundred years after American forces entered World War I, the transatlantic bond between the United States and Europe is stronger than ever.

The specter of communism no longer hovers over this continent. But today in the West, we still face serious threats to our security and way of life. And these are real threats. We will face them. And we will surely prevail.

We are facing another oppressive ideology - which aims to export terrorism and extremism around the world. America and Europe are falling victim to one terrorist attack after another. We will stop them.

During a historic meeting in Saudi Arabia, I called on the leaders of more than 50 Muslim countries to join forces to root out this threat that threatens all of humanity.

We must close ranks in the face of common enemies to deprive them of territory, funding, networks and all forms of ideological support.

And while we will always welcome new citizens who share our values and love our people, our borders will always be closed to terrorism and extremism.

We are fighting resolutely against radical Islamic terrorism. And we will win this fight. We cannot accept those who use hatred to justify violence against innocents.

Today, the West is also facing forces designed to test our will, shake our resolve and threaten our interests. To counter new forms of aggression, including propaganda, financial crime and cyberattacks, we must adapt our alliance to compete effectively in new areas and on new battlefields.

We call on Russia to cease its destabilizing actions in Ukraine and elsewhere, and stop providing support to hostile regimes - including Syria and Iran - and instead join the community of responsible nations in our struggle against common enemies and in defense of civilization.

And finally, on both sides of the Atlantic, our citizens face yet another danger - one that we can fully cope with. This danger is invisible to some, but familiar to Poles. The constant growth of government bureaucracy, which deprives people of the will to act and wealth. The West achieved great success not because of bureaucracy and regulation, but because people had the ability to follow their dreams and pursue their aspirations.

Americans, Poles and the peoples of Europe value individual freedom and sovereignty. We must work together to resist the forces, whether they come from within or from without, from the South or from the East, that threaten over time to undermine these values and sever the bonds of culture, faith and tradition that constitute our identity. If we do not oppose them - these forces will rob us of our courage, strain our spirit and weaken our will necessary to defend ourselves and our societies.

But just as our opponents and enemies of the past have learned in Poland - we know that these forces are also doomed to failure.

They are doomed to failure, not least because our alliance is strong, our countries are resilient and our power is second to none - although all this is true.

Our opponents are doomed to defeat, because we will never forget WHO WE ARE. If we don't forget, no one will defeat us. The Americans will not forget. The nations of Europe will not forget.

We are the freest and greatest community of nations the world has known. We compose symphonies. We strive for innovation.

We honor our ancient heroes, cherish our age-old traditions and customs, and are always seeking and exploring new opportunities.

We reward brilliant talent, strive for excellence and adore inspiring works of art that honor God.
We value the rule of law - and defend the right to free speech.

We support women - the pillars of our society and our success.
And we put faith and family at the heart of our lives; not government and bureaucracy.
We debate and question everything. We want to know everything - to know ourselves better.

And above all, we value the dignity of life of every human being, defend the rights of every human being and share the hope for a life of freedom inherent in every human soul.

This is what we are. Such are the priceless ties that bind us together. As nations, as allies and as a civilization.

What we have; what we inherited from our ancestors never existed before. You know this better than anyone, because the heroes of those events are standing here with us. And if we fail to defend it - it will never exist again. So we must not lose.

This great international community shares another common element: it is the NATION, not the mighty of this world, that has always been the foundation of our freedom and the cornerstone of our strength.

It is the nation that has been and is the foundation of these values here in Poland, here in Warsaw, and, since its inception, has been the foundation of America.

It was not for this that the citizens of our countries fought together for freedom, not for this that they jointly survived the horrors of wars, not for this that they jointly resisted evil, to now squander this freedom by lacking a sense of pride and faith in the values we profess. We did not and will not allow this to happen.

As long as we know where we came from, we know where we are going.
Americans are aware that a strong alliance of free, sovereign and independent states is the best way to defend our freedoms and our interests. That is why my Administration demands that all NATO members fully meet their fairly agreed upon financial obligations.

The post has already resulted in additional billions of dollars. In my opinion, these billions would not have flowed otherwise. To the critics of our tough stance, I would like to remind them that the US has shown not only in words, but BEFORE ALL IN ACTION its unyielding support for Article 5 of the multilateral defense commitments. It's easy to throw around words, but it's the FEATURES that count. For its own sake, EUROPE MUST DO MORE. It must show that it believes in its future by investing YOUR OWN MONEY in it.

That's why we applaud Poland's decision to buy battle-tested PATRIOT air and missile defense systems from the US. The best in the world. That's why we so appreciate the Polish nation, which is one of the few in NATO to meet the investment requirements for common defense. Thanks to Poland for being a role model for other NATO member countries.

Our defense is not just a financial commitment - it is also a commitment of WILL. Polish history teaches us that the defense of the West does not ultimately depend on money, but on the will of the nation to survive. And herein lies the fundamental question of our time: whether the West has the WILL to survive.

Do we believe strongly enough in our value system to defend it at all costs. Do we have enough respect for our citizens to defend the borders in which they live? Do we have enough will and courage to defend our civilization in the face of those who seek to insidiously annihilate it?

The world's largest economies and weapons of greatest destruction will be of no use if a strong family and a solid value system are missing. I encourage those who have forgotten their crucial importance to visit a country that has never forgotten it - let them come to Poland.

Let them come here, to Warsaw, and let them learn the history of the Warsaw Uprising. Let them learn the history of Jerusalem Avenue.

In August 1944, as now, Jerusalem Avenue was one of the main arteries cutting through the city from east to west. Control of it was crucial to both sides in the battle for Warsaw. The German military wanted to seize it as the shortest route for moving troops to and from the front.

For members of the Polish Home Army, on the other hand, being able to make their way north and south through Jerusalem Avenue was crucial to keeping Downtown alive, and thus keeping the Uprising itself alive.
Night after night, under machine gun fire, the Poles bore sandbags to defend their narrow passage across Jerusalem Avenue. Day after day, the enemy smashed them to smithereens. Then the Poles made a trench, and soon - a barricade. Thus the intrepid insurgents began to cross this artery.

This narrow passage determined the continuation of the Uprising. Residents and insurgents, risking their lives, ran through this narrow passage to bring aid to their city. "It was only a few meters," - recalled a young woman named Greta. "This deadly stretch of street was soaked with the blood of messengers, liaison officers and couriers."

Snipers took them on target. Enemy soldiers burned every building, and when they attacked a barricade, they used Poles as human shields for their tanks.
The enemy did not stop attacking the tiny outpost of civilization, and the Poles did not stop defending it.

The isthmus through Jerusalem Avenue required constant defense, repairs and fortifications. But the will of the defenders, even in the face of death, was unwavering; the passage existed until the last days of the Uprising. It was never forgotten; thanks to the Poles, it was always accessible.

The memory of the victims of this heroic event cries out to us for decades, and the memories of the defenders of the Jerusalem Avenue crossing are among the most vivid.

These heroes remind us that the West was saved by the blood of patriots, that every generation has a role to play in this defense. And that every inch of land, every inch of our civilization is worthy of this defense.

Our fight to defend the West does not begin on the battlefield - it begins with our minds, our wills, our souls.

Today, the ties that bind our civilization together matter no less - and require no less fierce defense - than that heap of land on which Poland's hope for existence was centered. Our freedom, our civilization, and our survival depend on these very bonds of history, culture, and memory.

And today, as always, Poland is in our hearts, while her people are fighting. I announce to the world today that just as the will of Poland could not be broken, WE WILL NEVER BREAK THE WILL OF THE WEST.

Our value system WILL WIN. Our nations WILL flourish. And our civilization will ENDURANCE.

So let's all fight like Poles - FOR FAMILY, FOR FREEDOM, FOR DREAM AND FOR GOD.

Thank you. May God bless you. May God bless the Polish Nation. May God bless our allies. May God bless the United States of America.