"Well, I believe the president is obviously pleased to see the result of the Polish elections," Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday.
'Common sense and strong borders'
She said Trump told Nawrocki during a meeting at the White House on May 1 that the Polish conservative would win the election because he supported "common sense and strong borders in Poland."
Nawrocki also "supported an end to the woke radical DEI stuff that we have seen not just here in the United States but really take over Europe and frankly the whole world," Leavitt said, referring to diversity, equity and inclusion programmes.
"He was very outspoken about that, and I was reading the reports about how the Polish people felt about this man and they felt he was putting the needs of Poland first," Leavitt said. "And that is a very refreshing feeling, one that we know very well here in the United States of America."
'A very strong relationship and friendship'
"So as you know, the United States and Poland have a very strong relationship and friendship," Leavitt told reporters. "They are a great ally, and I know the president continues to look forward to working with them."
Nawrocki said on Tuesday that a "strong alliance" with the United States and a "partnership based on close cooperation" were among his top priorities.
Nawrocki made the statement after Trump congratulated him on his victory, praising the country's choice of the Eurosceptic historian as its next head of state.
"Congratulations Poland, you picked a winner," Trump wrote on social media, after official results showed Nawrocki narrowly defeated centrist Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski in Sunday's runoff vote.
"Thank you, Mr. President," Nawrocki responded in a post on X. "A strong alliance with the USA, as well as a partnership based on close cooperation, are my top priorities."
Backed by the right-wing opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, Nawrocki won 50.89 percent of the runoff vote in a tight race against Trzaskowski, who received 49.11 percent.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also congratulated Nawrocki, saying in a statement that "the Polish people have spoken and support a stronger military and securing their borders."
Calling Poland "a model ally and a key contributor to strengthening the NATO alliance," Rubio said that Washington looked forward to "working closely with President-elect Nawrocki and Poland’s government to further our shared priorities."
Nawrocki is set to be sworn in on August 6, succeeding outgoing conservative President Andrzej Duda, who was constitutionally barred from seeking a third term.
(gs)
Source: polskieradio24.pl, PAP, IAR, state.gov
Click on the audio player above for a report by Michał Owczarek.