President Donald Trump revealed on Wednesday that the United States is contemplating a reduction of American troops stationed in Germany. This move escalates his ongoing tensions with German leaders, particularly after he recently criticized Chancellor Friedrich Merz regarding Iran.
In a post shared on Truth Social, Trump mentioned that the U.S. is “studying and considering the possibility of reducing our military presence in Germany.” He indicated that a decision would be made “in the short term.”
This announcement followed a day after Trump took aim at Chancellor Merz, who had remarked, “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” in reference to Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Trump asserted that Merz believes it is acceptable for Iran to possess nuclear weapons and criticized him for being out of touch. “If Iran had nuclear weapons, the whole world would be held hostage,” he added, suggesting that prior administrations should have tackled these issues more decisively. He also pointed out that Germany’s current economic struggles are evident.
Merz had expressed hopes for a swift conclusion to the conflict with Iran, reflecting his previous comments in which he said the U.S. faced humiliation from Iranian leadership. The two leaders have had a history of public disagreements concerning various matters, including tariffs and defense strategies.
As of late 2025, over 36,000 active-duty U.S. service members were based in Germany, marking the highest number in any European nation. However, it’s unclear how many troops Trump intends to withdraw.
