Donald Trump has mocked Germany as a “broken country” after its chancellor said Iran had “humiliated” the US.
The President said the Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, should spend more time “fixing his broken country” and less time “interfering with those that are getting rid of the Iran nuclear threat” in a scathing Truth Social post.
He also slammed the Chancellor for being “totally ineffective” in ending Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Trump wrote: “The Chancellor of Germany should spend more time on ending the war with Russia/Ukraine (Where he has been totally ineffective!), and fixing his broken Country, especially Immigration and Energy, and less time on interfering with those that are getting rid of the Iran Nuclear threat, thereby making the World, including Germany, a safer place!”
His comments come after Merz previously said the US was being “humiliated” by “very skilled” Iranians.
Speaking to students in Marsberg, Germany, on Monday, Merz said: “The Iranians are obviously very skilled at negotiating, or rather, very skillful at not negotiating, letting the Americans travel to Islamabad and then leave again without any result.
“An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards. And so I hope that this ends as quickly as possible.”
Merz reiterated his hope for the conflict to end on Wednesday, saying Europe was “suffering” from the consequences of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump appeared to hit back by announcing the US may reduce its number of troops deployed in Germany.
In a separate Truth Social post, the US President said his administration was “studying and reviewing the possible reduction of troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period of time”.
Just hours after the threat, Merz highlighted the importance of Germany’s relationship with the US.
Speaking to reporters today at the Munster military base in western Germany, Merz said: “As you know, this transatlantic partnership is particularly close to our hearts – and to mine personally.”
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