Trump considering reducing American troops in Germany after Iran war
FILE-President Donald Trump meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C. on March 3, 2026. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
President Donald Trump intimated that he may reduce the U.S. military presence in Germany amid an ongoing spat with Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the U.S-Israel war against Iran.
Trump made the suggestion after Merz earlier this week said that the U.S. was being "humiliated" by the Iranian leadership and criticized the U.S. lack of strategy in the war.
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The Associated Press reported that Merz had said Wednesday that his personal relationship with Trump remained "as good as ever," but he had "had doubts from the very beginning about what was started there with the war in Iran."
Trump also repeatedly ranted against NATO for the alliance's refusal to help the U.S. in its two-month-old war with Iran.
Trump talks possible troop reduction in Germany
What they're saying:
Trump addressed the matter in a post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, writing, "The United States is studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period of time."
In March, Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with Trump at the White House days after the U.S. and Israel began their attack on Iran.
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The Associated Press reported that Merz told Trump that Germany was anxious to work with the U.S. on a strategy for when the current Iranian government no longer exists. Merz also shared concerns that an extended conflict might do great damage to the global economy.
Merz’s unease, like other European leaders, has intensified as the U.S. and Iran have yet to come to a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which roughly 20% of the global oil supply had flowed before the start of the Iran war.
Dig deeper:
Trump announced in June 2020 he was going to pull out 9,500 of the roughly 34,500 American troops who were then stationed in Germany, but the process never began. And nearly a year later, President Joe Biden stopped the planned troop withdrawal after taking office in 2021.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by The Associated Press. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.