US President Donald Trump has stepped up his criticism of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, telling him to focus on domestic problems and the Russia-Ukraine war instead of commenting on his approach to Iran. He took to his social media platform to attack the German Chancellor again, accusing him of interfering in US efforts to deal with Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
The US President has been visibly irritated by recent comments from the German leader, who said that Washington had been outmanoeuvred in negotiations with Tehran.
“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 said.
WAR OF WORDS OVER IRAN
The row did not emerge in isolation. It follows Merz’s earlier remarks in which he questioned Washington’s strategy and said that the US had been humiliated by Iranian negotiators.
“And then letting the Americans travel to Islamabad, only to send them back without any results. An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards,” Merz said.
Trump in a Tuesday Truth Social post responded by saying that Merz “thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.”
“He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!” he wrote. “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.”
MERZ PLAYS DOWN RIFT
For his part, the German Chancellor said that his ties with Trump remain steady despite the recent exchange of criticism. “My personal relationship with the US President remains good. I simply had doubts from the start about what was begun with the war in Iran. That is why I have made that clear,” he told reporters.
He also pointed to the wider economic impact of the conflict, especially following the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. “This has a direct impact on our energy supply and a huge impact on our economic performance,” Merz said.
Rising fuel prices triggered by the war are starting to bite at home for Donald Trump, adding to the political heat in Washington. The surge is raising the stakes for Republicans, who now face a tougher fight to hold on to their House and Senate majorities in the upcoming midterm elections.
The dispute has also revived debate over the US military presence in Germany. Trump recently said his administration is reviewing the possibility of reducing troops.
Germany hosts the largest share of US forces in Europe, with thousands of troops based at key sites such as Ramstein. Although earlier plans to pull troops out faced strong pushback, the idea has come up again as tensions grow within Nato.
With inputs from agencies
