In the wake of comments from Germany’s chancellor that America was being “humiliated by the Iranian leadership,” President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced the possibility of reducing the number of U.S. troops in the European nation.
Trump said on Truth Social: “The United States is studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period of time. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) April 29, 2026
According to USAFacts, “The top five countries with the highest number of active-duty U.S. troops are: Japan (54,288), Germany (36,436), South Korea (23,495) Italy (12,662), United Kingdom (10,156).”
On Tuesday, Trump scolded Friedrich Merz, indicating the German chancellor “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!”
Despite the criticism, Merz on Wednesday said his relationship with Trump “remains good.”
“From my perspective, my personal relationship with the U.S. President remains good,” Merz told reporters, according to Reuters. “I simply had doubts from the start about what was begun with the war in Iran. That is why I have made that clear.”
On Monday, Merz told German students the U.S. was being “humiliated by the Iranian leadership” for having an American delegation travel to Pakistan for peace talks, only to depart without a deal.
A second round of indirect talks in Islamabad featuring special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner was originally planned for this past weekend, but Trump canceled the trip, telling reporters Wednesday that U.S. representatives would no longer make “18-hour flights every time we want to see a piece of paper.”
BREAKING: President Trump has CANCELLED Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner’s trip to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran
Trump says US negotiators will “NOT be making any more 18 hour flight to sit around and talk about NOTHING.”
“Iran can call anytime.”
Wow. pic.twitter.com/1hVs9Iu8Qt
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 25, 2026
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