Trump Doubles Down on Attacks Against Germany’s Merz Amid Growing Rift Over Iran War

President Donald Trump has once again targeted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, intensifying a diplomatic rift over the US-led war on Iran that is straining one of America’s closest European alliances. Trump took to social media to scold Merz for criticizing the military campaign against Tehran, telling him to “spend more time on ending the war with Russia/Ukraine” and fixing Germany’s domestic problems like immigration and energy.

The president portrayed the Iran conflict as a global security necessity, claiming it is “making the World, including Germany, a safer place” despite soaring energy prices caused by the war. This framing comes amid growing unease in Berlin, where officials are bracing for a possible reduction in the roughly 35,000 US troops stationed in Germany—a cornerstone of NATO’s European defense posture.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul confirmed that Berlin is “prepared” for fewer American soldiers and emphasized ongoing discussions within NATO. Yet the discord runs deeper than troop numbers. Merz, once a staunch ally of Washington’s hawkish stance on Iran and Israel, has openly questioned the wisdom of the US strategy. He cautioned that military interventions require clear exit plans, citing painful lessons from Afghanistan and Iraq, and suggested the Trump administration is being “humiliated” by Tehran’s tough negotiating stance.

Trump dismissed these critiques, claiming Merz “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” Meanwhile, Berlin has tried to soften Merz’s comments, with Wadephul accusing Iran of stalling talks and “playing for time,” echoing the Trump administration’s hardline rhetoric.

Germany’s complex position includes being a major military supplier to Israel and cracking down on Palestinian activism domestically, even as it attempts to maintain a united NATO front. Merz reaffirmed his commitment to NATO and transatlantic ties, calling the partnership “particularly close to our hearts.”

However, Trump’s skepticism toward NATO has grown, especially as European allies have refused to join direct military action against Iran or efforts to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The US president insists the war is necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, a claim disputed by intelligence officials and contradicted by previous US strikes that allegedly “obliterated” Tehran’s nuclear program.

This escalating public spat between Trump and Merz exposes cracks in the transatlantic alliance just as the US pushes a controversial and unilateral military agenda in the Middle East—one that risks alienating key partners and undermining collective security frameworks.