Trump Renews Attack on German Chancellor Merz Amid Escalating Iran War Dispute
Al Jazeera Staff
U.S. President Donald Trump has renewed his attacks on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, accusing him of interfering with the Iran war campaign instead of addressing European issues. Berlin has confirmed it is preparing for a possible reduction of U.S. troops in Germany as tensions between the allies escalate.
U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated his attacks on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as the rift between Washington and one of its closest European allies widens over Berlin’s opposition to the Iran war.
In a social media post on Thursday, Trump argued that the German chancellor should focus on ending the Russia-Ukraine war, addressing domestic immigration and energy problems, rather than interfering with efforts to “eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat.” He claimed the military campaign in Iran is making the world, including Germany, safer.
Tensions between the U.S. and Germany have soared since Trump launched the Iran war alongside Israel without consulting NATO partners. Trump has previously indicated his administration is considering reducing U.S. troop numbers in Germany, which hosts a major American military base in Europe.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul confirmed Berlin is prepared for this scenario, stressing that discussions will take place within the NATO framework.
The conflict stems from remarks by Chancellor Merz, who once supported a tough U.S.-Israel stance on Iran but has recently questioned Washington’s strategy. Merz warned about the difficulty of withdrawing from conflicts, citing lessons from Afghanistan and Iraq.
Earlier this week, Trump accused Merz of “not knowing what he’s talking about.” Berlin attempted to de-escalate by stating the chancellor had only referred to Iran’s “bad behavior” during negotiations.
Despite the tensions, Merz has reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to NATO and transatlantic relations. However, Trump’s skepticism toward NATO is growing as the alliance refuses to directly join the Iran war and declines help in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Notably, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has stated that Iran is not developing nuclear weapons, while Trump continues to assert that the 2025 airstrikes “eliminated” Tehran’s nuclear program.
