The platform hoped to mirror a past moment when several EU figures visited Poland and met with the opposition, even though their goal was to engage with the Polish government. Yet that did not happen. It became clear that the European Union and the United States operate as separate spheres, according to a sociologist from the Polish Academy of Sciences, Professor Henryk Domanski.
Government, opposition and Biden’s visit
President Joe Biden’s trip to Poland, set against a historically charged backdrop, unquestionably elevated Poland’s standing. Still, the two major political camps in the country tried to frame the visit to suit their narratives.
“An attempt to force interpretation”
Why did one facet of Biden’s visit become a hot topic—the duration of his conversations, the questions about who he spoke with, and who took a photo with him—and why did some people attempt to cast the opposition meetings with the American leader in a certain light? These questions, along with others about Biden’s Poland visit, were directed to Prof. Henryk Domanski for insight.
Engaging with a figure of such prominence—someone as influential as the President of the United States—naturally boosts the perceived status of those who are close to him. When Biden shakes a hand, exchanges a few words, and the conversation lengthens, the immediate takeaway is a higher profile for the person involved, the sociologist notes.
That is the interpretation offered by the Citizens’ Platform, and it seems a reasonable read. The idea of leveraging proximity to a powerful figure is a common tactic across politics. It also mirrors everyday behavior—being in the presence of someone important can be used to amplify one’s own visibility.
So, it would be surprising if the Platform didn’t try to capitalize on this moment. They did, in fact, attempt to ride the wave, but the miscalculation lay in misreading the scale of the moment. When one overplays such a move, the effect can be the opposite of the intended effect, a phenomenon that also touches the realm of legal judgments.
The public discussion that followed Biden’s handshakes with Donald Tusk, Tomasz Grodzki, and Rafał Trzaskowski suggested that the opposition sought to persuade audiences that Biden genuinely valued the opposition in Poland. The attempt did not land decisively, according to the sociologist, who sees the episode as lacking authenticity—more like a forced interpretation that did not fit the broader context.
It was clear to many observers that Biden’s purpose in Poland was to engage with the government and participate in the Bucharest Nine Summit, rather than to meet the opposition directly, a nuance highlighted by a wPolityce.pl interlocutor.
“One thing for the EU, another for the United States”
Did the opposition gain any advantage from the atmosphere surrounding Biden’s visit? The answers vary. For the government, the president, and the Law and Justice party, the event offered a clear benefit: Biden’s presence in Warsaw, his talks there, and a public address, all of which circulated globally and reinforced Poland as a conduit in European security and Ukraine-related matters. While Biden’s trip to Kyiv was the centerpiece, his Warsaw stopover and the government’s handling of the visit received widespread attention, boosting the image of Polish authorities.
The sociologist notes that Biden, known for his long career in American politics and not necessarily aligned with every US faction, acted as a guest of the host government during this stop. The visit, in practice, elevated the perception of Poland on the world stage and lent a certain gravitas to the current administration. The host government would likely retain this momentum in the months ahead.
For the Polish opposition, the outcomes were less uniform. It was hoped that Biden’s presence would foreground their stance, but the overall impact depended on how public opinion absorbed the moment. In any case, the scenario helped keep Poland in the global spotlight as a key actor in regional security and European Union dynamics, while also highlighting internal political fault lines.
According to the analyst, the government and Prime Minister’s delegation clearly benefited from the international attention. The event contributed to a broader awareness of Poland’s role in NATO and regional security, particularly in relation to Ukraine’s conflict and Europe’s eastern flank.
The professor also points out a nuanced dynamic: Biden’s visit is often interpreted through the lens of domestic US politics. Yet on the ground, what mattered most was his engagement with the host government and the visible commitment to regional issues. The overall takeaway, he suggests, is that the president’s presence amplified the standing of Poland in international affairs and highlighted the country’s strategic importance.
Observers note that the event’s symbolism should not be overestimated, but its practical effects—such as enhanced credibility and perceived political stability—are likely to linger in public perception for months to come. As for the opposition, the assessment remains mixed: some gains in visibility, but uncertain translation into broader support.
The broader takeaway, according to the discussion, is that Poland sits at a pivotal junction in European security, with US attention reinforcing the country’s centrality to NATO’s eastern flank. The political tone at home will continue to evolve as the public digests the implications of this international moment. (Citation: wPolityce)