Morning opening: What were you saying, Mr Merz?
Jakub Krupa
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.
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.
At a recent meeting with high school students, Merz said that the US was “being humiliated” by Iran’s leadership through taking part in negotiations that come to nothing, and that the war “is costing us a lot of money … and a lot of economic strength.”
“This war against Iran has a direct impact on our economic performance, and for that reason it must be brought to an end as soon as possible,” he said.
Ouch.
He still insisted that his relationship with Trump was good though, but not sure that’s the case any more.
Let’s see if we are going to hear a reaction from Germany today.
Elsewhere, I will look out for comments on Trump’s phone call with Putin – including his suggestions that Ukraine is “defeated” and that Putin was working on some sort of temporary ceasefire.
It’s Thursday, 30 April 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
Key events
If you want to catch up with what caused the latest spat between Germany and the US, here’s the video of Merz’s controversial comments from earlier this week.
Which reminds me that he also said the Americans “clearly have no exit strategy.”
Ouch.
Ukraine will ‘clarify’ what Putin’s ‘ceasefire’ proposal is about, Zelenskyy says
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has responded to Trump’s comments after his phone call with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
In a post on social media, he said he instructed his team to contact Trump’s aides to “clarify the details of Russia’s proposal for a short-term ceasefire.”
“Ukraine seeks peace and is doing the necessary diplomatic work to bring this war to a real end. We will clarify what exactly this is about – a few hours of security for a parade in Moscow, or something more.”
This, obviously, is a swipe at Moscow’s decision to hold Victory Day parade next week with no military hardware because of fears of a long-range attack by Ukrainian drones.
Zelenskyy continued:
“Our proposal is a long-term ceasefire, reliable and guaranteed security for people, and a lasting peace. Ukraine is ready to work toward this in any dignified and effective format.”
Morning opening: What were you saying, Mr Merz?
Jakub Krupa
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.
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.
At a recent meeting with high school students, Merz said that the US was “being humiliated” by Iran’s leadership through taking part in negotiations that come to nothing, and that the war “is costing us a lot of money … and a lot of economic strength.”
“This war against Iran has a direct impact on our economic performance, and for that reason it must be brought to an end as soon as possible,” he said.
Ouch.
He still insisted that his relationship with Trump was good though, but not sure that’s the case any more.
Let’s see if we are going to hear a reaction from Germany today.
Elsewhere, I will look out for comments on Trump’s phone call with Putin – including his suggestions that Ukraine is “defeated” and that Putin was working on some sort of temporary ceasefire.
It’s Thursday, 30 April 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.