Trump threatens to pull NATO troops from Germany after Merz criticised Iran war

Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, April 30: “The United States is studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period of time. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP”

He did not provide further detail nor context to the possible reduction of troops.

Trump earlier this week express frustration towards Friedrich Merz after the German Chancellor took a major swipe at the US plan in the Iran war.

On Monday, Merz claimed the US “obviously went into this war without any strategy”.

He said during a discussion with students at a high school in Marsberg in the Sauerland region: “Especially since the Iranians obviously negotiate very skillfully – or do not negotiate very skillfully. An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership.”

Germany’s Chancellor also said: “Because the Iranians are obviously stronger than previously thought, and the Americans clearly lack a truly convincing strategy in the negotiations.”

Trump repsonded in a separate post on Truth Social: “The Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!”

“If Iran had a Nuclear Weapon, the whole World would be held hostage. I am doing something with Iran, right now, that other Nations, or Presidents, should have done long ago.”

“No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both Economically, and otherwise! President DONALD J. TRUMP”

Trump’s posts come after a series of attacks on NATO allies for what he considers a lack of support in the US war with Iran.

The US and Iran have been in conflict since February 28 when joint US-Israeli forces carried out strikes on several key Iranian sites and Iran retaliated but striking sites across the Middle East and closing the critical Strait of Hormuz trade route.

It has previously been reported that the Trump administration was considering a plan to punish some members of the NATO alliance that it believes were unhelpful to the US and Israel during the Iran war.

NATO, a 32-member alliance, was formed in 1949 to counter the risk of Soviet attack. It now focusses protecting ally counties by promising that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. It has been the cornerstone of the West’s security.