President Donald Trump continued his public feud with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Thursday, posting a third consecutive broadside on Truth Social against the German leader while threatening to reduce the American military footprint in Germany — a dramatic escalation of transatlantic tensions sparked by Merz’s criticism of U.S. strategy in the Iran war.

“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!” Trump wrote Thursday morning.

The public row has its origins in remarks Merz made earlier this week during a visit to a school in Marsberg, northwestern Germany, in which he sharply criticized the American approach to Iran. “The Americans clearly have no strategy,” Merz said, adding that “the problem with conflicts like this is always that you don’t just have to go in; you also have to get out again.”

Merz drew comparisons between the Iran war and previous American military interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq — comparisons the Trump administration has strongly rejected. He described the current situation as “ill-considered” and argued that Iran had outmaneuvered Washington at the negotiating table. “The Iranians are obviously very skilful at not negotiating, letting the Americans travel to Islamabad and then leave again without any result,” he said. “An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership.”

Trump responded Tuesday with a pointed personal attack, accusing Merz of believing “it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.” He added: “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!”

On Wednesday, the president escalated further, announcing that his administration was “studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany,” with a decision expected “over the next short period of time.”

The threat carries significant weight. According to data from the U.S. Defense Manpower Data Center, approximately 36,000 to 40,000 American active-duty personnel are currently stationed in Germany — the largest U.S. military presence in any foreign country outside of Japan — and Germany serves as the headquarters of U.S. European Command.

Defense analysts have noted that any withdrawal would be logistically complicated and would disrupt longstanding U.S. defense architecture across the European continent.
Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO allies throughout the Iran conflict for declining to participate militarily, telling reporters Wednesday that he was “very disappointed” with the alliance because “they weren’t there” to provide assistance.

Merz did not appear to back down Thursday. During a visit to German troops at a military base in Münster, he acknowledged the friction with Washington while emphasizing his commitment to the transatlantic alliance. “On all these issues, we maintain close and trusting contact with our partners, including — and especially — those in Washington,” Merz told the assembled troops. “We do this in the shared transatlantic interest. We do so with mutual respect and a fair sharing of the burden.”

He added that Germany’s strategic orientation remained fixed. “We are following a clear compass, especially during this turbulent phase — this compass remains focused on a strong NATO and a reliable transatlantic partnership.”
Merz has also pointed to the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz as inflicting serious damage on European economies, lending an additional edge to his criticism of Washington’s handling of the conflict.

Merz used his Münster visit to call directly on Iran to return to the negotiating table. “Iran must stop playing for time. It can no longer hold the entire region, and ultimately the entire world, hostage,” he said, warning that Tehran’s disruption of Strait of Hormuz shipping is causing severe economic damage globally. He renewed calls for European partners to ratchet up sanctions pressure on Iran to help end the blockade.

Notably, Merz did not repeat his earlier criticisms of the Trump administration at the Münster appearance, instead striking a conciliatory transatlantic tone. “We are acting in the shared transatlantic interest, and we are doing so with mutual respect,” he said, adding that his government remains firmly committed to NATO and the transatlantic partnership. “As you know, this transatlantic partnership is especially important to us, and to me personally,” he said.

Germany is not alone among American allies in voicing concern. The United Kingdom’s top economic official recently reproached the Trump administration for entering the conflict without a “clear exit plan,” citing the toll on British consumers — who have seen petrol prices rise significantly since the start of the war.
The dispute comes as pressure mounts within the United States as well. Pentagon officials said Wednesday that the conflict has already cost at least $25 billion, adding urgency to calls for a de-escalation strategy. A fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran remains nominally in place, but no clear path to a durable resolution has emerged.