Trump threatens Germany with US troop reduction after Merz’s Iran war criticism – Europe live

Morning opening: What were you saying, Mr Merz? US president Donald Trump threatened to reduce the number of troops deployed in Germany last night, after chancellor Friedrich Merz said this week that the US was being “humilitated” by Iran. US president Donald Trump meets with German chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office of the White House in March. Photograph: Win McNamee/ Trump said the US was “studying and reviewing the possible reduction of troops in Germany , with a determination to be made over the next short period of time.” Earlier yesterday, he posted a separate criticism of Merz’s Germany, saying: “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” His comments come just hours after Trump’s phone call with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and – which is likely to be of significance - after Merz repeatedly criticised Trump’s decision to start the Iran war and partially blamed it for Germany’s worse than expected economic results. …