President Donald Trump this weekend congratulated Poland on its day of remembrance for the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's invasion, marking a contrast to Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who instead asked the country for its forgiveness for the Sept. 1, 1939 invasion and his country's World War II atrocities. 

Trump was asked Sunday while speaking to reporters on the White House South Lawn if he had a message for Poland on the anniversary of the Nazi invasion. 

"I do have a great message for Poland," Trump responded, reports The Washington Post.   "And we have Mike Pence, our Vice President, is just about landing right now. And he is representing me."

"I look forward to being there soon. But I just want to congratulate Poland," he continued. "It's a great country with great people. We also have many Polish people in our country; it could be 8 million. We love our Polish friends. And I will be there soon."

Trump had planned to visit Poland during the weekend to attend ceremonies for the anniversary but canceled the trip to remain in the United States as Hurricane Dorian approached, sending Pence instead. 

Two days after the Nazis invaded Poland, France and Great Britain declared war, notes the Post. Poland ended up losing an estimated one-fifth of its population during World War II. 

Pence, speaking in Warsaw's Pilsudski Square on Sunday, marked the occasion with somber words.

"It is difficult for any of us who are not Poles to fathom the horrors that began here 80 years ago, on this day, the first of September 1939," the vice president said, also noting the "unspeakable evil of the Holocaust," which "systemically murdered more than 3 million of Poland's Jewish citizens."

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