German Interference Angers Trump
US President Donald Trump has launched a fierce criticism following German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s remarks on the Iran conflict. Trump is furious over Merz’s interference.
This tension is not only triggered by differing views on the Middle East conflict but also extends to other issues, including the presence of US troops in Germany and the role of allied nations in the NATO alliance.
Trump’s annoyance was sparked by Merz’s statement describing Iran as “humiliating” Washington in the negotiation process. This remark prompted a strong response from Trump, who deemed Merz as not understanding the situation.
Trump even accused Merz of having misguided views on the Iran nuclear issue. He stated that Merz “thinks it’s fine for Iran to have nuclear weapons. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!” as reported by AFP on Thursday (30/4/2026).
On the other hand, Merz sought to defuse the situation by affirming that his personal relationship with Trump remains good.
“From my perspective, the personal relationship between the US president and me remains as good as before,” he said during a press conference in Berlin.
Trump Rebukes Merz over Iran Conflict
Trump openly rebuked Merz for allegedly interfering in the Iran conflict. He urged the German Chancellor to focus more on other matters deemed more relevant to his country, including the Russia-Ukraine war.
“The German Chancellor should spend more time ending the war with Russia/Ukraine (where he is completely ineffective!), and fixing his broken country, especially the Immigration and Energy problems,” Trump wrote on social media, as reported by Al Jazeera on Thursday (30/4/2026).
Trump also emphasised that Merz should not meddle in others’ efforts to address the Iran nuclear threat.
“(Merz should spend) less time interfering with parties that are removing the Nuclear Threat from Iran, which thereby makes the world, including Germany, a much safer place!” he added.
Threat of Reducing US Troops in Germany
Amid this tension, Trump also stated that he is considering reducing the number of US troops stationed in Germany.
“The United States is studying and reviewing the possibility of reducing troops in Germany, with a decision to be made in the near future,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, as reported by AFP on Thursday (30/4/2026).
This is not the first time Trump has raised this issue. During his tenure, he frequently criticised European allies regarding their contributions to NATO. Currently, the number of US troops in Germany is estimated to be tens of thousands of personnel.
This policy is also said to be linked to the stance of some allies who do not fully support US military actions in the Iran conflict or contributions in strategic areas such as the Strait of Hormuz.
German Response and Reaffirmation of NATO Partnership
In response to the threat, Germany stated it is prepared for a possible reduction in US troops. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said his side has seriously discussed this issue within the NATO framework.
“We are prepared for it, we are discussing it carefully and in a spirit of trust in all NATO bodies, and we expect a decision from America on this,” he said, as reported by AFP on Thursday (30/4/2026).
He added that any decision will be discussed with allies.
“Any decision will be ‘discussed with us and with others, as it should be among allies’,” he said.
Although maintaining a calm stance, Wadephul emphasised the importance of US military bases in Germany. He described facilities like Ramstein Air Base as having “an irreplaceable function for the United States and for both of us”.
Germany also reaffirmed its commitment to the transatlantic partnership.
“We do this for our common transatlantic interest. We do it with mutual respect and a fair sharing of the burden,” stated the German government.