Trump threatens Germany with US troop reduction after Merz’s Iran war criticism – Europe live | World news
Morning opening: What were you saying, Mr. Merz?
Yakup Krupa
US President Donald Trump last night threatened to reduce the number of troops deployed in Germany after Chancellor Friedrich Merz said this week that the US was “humiliated” by Iran.
Trump said The US was “studying and reviewing possible troop reductions in Germany, “With a decision to be made in the next short time.”
He published a separate criticism of Merz’s Germany earlier yesterday, saying:
“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz thinks it is normal for Iran to have Nuclear Weapons. He does not know what he is talking about! If Iran had Nuclear Weapons, the whole World would be held hostage. I am now doing something with Iran that other nations or Presidents should have done a long time ago. No wonder Germany is in such a bad situation, both economically and otherwise! President DONALD J. TRUMP”
His comments are coming Just hours after Trump’s phone call with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and – which is likely to be important – then Merz repeatedly criticized Trump’s decision to start Iran war and blamed it in part for Germany’s worse-than-expected economic results.
In a meeting held recently with high school students, Merz says US ‘humiliated’ by Iranian leadership participating in fruitless negotiations and war “costs us a lot of money and a lot of economic power.”
“This war against Iran directly affects our economic performance. “That’s why it needs to be stopped as soon as possible,” he said.
Ah.
He still insisted that his relationship with Trump was good, but he’s no longer sure that’s the case.
Let’s see if we can hear any reaction. Germany Today.
I’ll do it somewhere else Watch out for comments on Trump’s phone call with Putin – including his Claims that Ukraine is “defeated” and this Putin was working on some kind of temporary ceasefire.
His Thursday, April 30, 2026his Yakup Krupa here and this Europe Live.
Good morning.
important events
Yakup Krupa
Not that it matters to Trump, but not merz Definitely It is wrong to cite the Iran war as at least one of the reasons why the German economy performed slightly worse than expected.
Just this morning Germany recorded 0.3% growth in the first quarter of 2026; this was slightly above the expected 0.2%. With a forecast of 0.5% for the full year. But as handelsblatt notesBefore the war began, some expectations were closer to 1% or even higher.
Experts fear that some impacts, for example on the cost of energy, have not yet been fully felt.
And Another important source is ummUncertainty is also linked to Trump – and this is clearly the ongoing threat of US tariffs affecting the automotive industry in particular.
“Wars, geopolitical tensions, trade barriers, tighter regulations and intense competition are creating headwinds,” the Volkswagen CEO said. Oliver Blume It was announced this morning, according to AFP.
However There’s another part of the equation, There is increasing interest in the performance of Merz’s government, which continues to face criticism for the slow pace of domestic reforms.
German finance minister Lars Klingbeil He wrote about the government’s plans in the Guardian last week.
But as the government approaches its first anniversary in office next week, we expect a lot of commentary and scrutiny about what actually happened. completed.
If you want to know the reason for the last fight between Germany and the USA, Here’s video of Merz’s controversial comments from earlier this week.
This also reminds me of the Americans saying “there is no clear exit strategy.”
Ah.
Zelenskyy says Ukraine will ‘clarify’ what Putin’s ‘ceasefire’ offer is about
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to Trump’s comments after his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Inside a post on social media, He said he instructed his team to contact Trump aides to “clarify the details of Russia’s short-term ceasefire offer.”
“Ukraine wants peace and is doing the necessary diplomatic work to truly end this war. We’ll explain exactly what this is all about – A few hours of security or more for a parade in Moscow.”
Obviously this An attack on Moscow’s decision to hold next week’s Victory Day parade without military hardware Due to fear of long-range attack by Ukrainian drones.
Zelenskyy continued:
“Our proposal is a long-term ceasefire. reliable and guaranteed security for people, and a lasting peace. “Ukraine is ready to work for this in any honorable and effective format.”
Morning opening: What were you saying, Mr. Merz?
Yakup Krupa
US President Donald Trump last night threatened to reduce the number of troops deployed in Germany after Chancellor Friedrich Merz said this week that the US was “humiliated” by Iran.
Trump said The US was “studying and reviewing possible troop reductions in Germany, “With a decision to be made in the next short time.”
He published a separate criticism of Merz’s Germany earlier yesterday, saying:
“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz thinks it is normal for Iran to have Nuclear Weapons. He does not know what he is talking about! If Iran had Nuclear Weapons, the whole World would be held hostage. I am now doing something with Iran that other nations or Presidents should have done a long time ago. No wonder Germany is in such a bad situation, both economically and otherwise! President DONALD J. TRUMP”
His comments are coming Just hours after Trump’s phone call with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and – which is likely to be important – then Merz repeatedly criticized Trump’s decision to start Iran war and blamed it in part for Germany’s worse-than-expected economic results.
In a meeting held recently with high school students, Merz says US ‘humiliated’ by Iranian leadership participating in fruitless negotiations and war “costs us a lot of money and a lot of economic power.”
“This war against Iran directly affects our economic performance. “That’s why it needs to be stopped as soon as possible,” he said.
Ah.
He still insisted that his relationship with Trump was good, but he’s no longer sure that’s the case.
Let’s see if we can hear any reaction. Germany Today.
I’ll do it somewhere else Watch out for comments on Trump’s phone call with Putin – including his Claims that Ukraine is “defeated” and this Putin was working on some kind of temporary ceasefire.
His Thursday, April 30, 2026his Yakup Krupa here and this Europe Live.
Good morning.
