Trump said Merz should be focusing on “fixing his broken country” and ending the Russian-Ukraine war rather than “interfering” with the US’s war with Iran.
Trump posted the initial suggestion hours after a phone call with the Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has long wanted to reduce Nato power and US military presence in Europe.
The clash between Trump and Merz marks a rapid deterioration of relations between the US and one of Europe’s top powers.
Donald Trump with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office in March.
Since Trump launched his war in Iran, he has escalated rhetoric Nato allies including the UK, suggesting he will punish those he feels have not been sufficiently supportive of the war.
A leaked internal Pentagon email showed the US had considered reviewing the UK’s ownership of the Falklands and suspending Spain’s membership of Nato.
Even if troops were to leave Germany, this would not signal the end of the US defensive partnership in Europe. »