Trump tells Merz to ‘fix his broken country’ in new attack on German chancellor

Key Points:

• Former US President Donald Trump criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, urging him to focus on domestic issues like immigration and energy, and to spend less time interfering in Iran-related matters, particularly regarding the Iran nuclear threat.
• Trump’s remarks followed Merz’s comments accusing the US of being "humiliated" by Iran and criticizing Washington for lacking an exit strategy in the Russia-Ukraine war; Merz later emphasized the importance of NATO and US-German ties while condemning Iran’s refusal to engage in peace talks.
• German officials downplayed the significance of Trump’s threats to reduce US troops in Germany, noting such statements have been made by multiple US presidents and affirming Germany’s preparedness for potential troop shifts amid ongoing discussions within NATO.
• Experts highlighted that US military bases in Germany, especially Ramstein, play a critical role in global US military operations, and while European reliance on US support may need reassessment, a sudden US withdrawal could lead to greater instability.
• German defense policymakers advised a measured response to troop reduction talks, emphasizing the importance of orderly implementation and recognizing the strategic value of US military presence in Germany for both American global power projection and allied security.