Trump Tells Germany's Merz to Stop Interfering on Iran
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- Trump escalated a three-day attack on Merz — on Tuesday saying he "didn't know what he was talking about" after Merz called Iran talks humiliating for the U.S., and on Wednesday in the Oval Office saying Merz was struggling with energy and immigration and ineffective on the Ukraine war.
- Trump posted on Truth Social on Thursday calling Merz "terrible," telling him to focus on Russia/Ukraine, immigration, and energy, and "less time on interfering with those that are getting rid of the Iran Nuclear threat."
- Merz, speaking at a military base, underscored the transatlantic partnership and said Berlin remained in "trusting contact" with partners, but did not address Trump's troop reduction comments.
- Merz reaffirmed Germany's openness to taking part in a military mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz once conditions were met.
- The Strait of Hormuz has been largely blockaded since the war's outbreak on February 28, throttling oil transports, driving energy prices sharply higher, and disrupting supply chains including for fertilizer.
Why it matters: The three-day Trump-Mertz clash over Iran and Ukraine exposes transatlantic friction precisely as Germany is still offering troops for a Strait of Hormuz mission — a waterway blockaded since February 28 that has driven energy prices sharply higher and disrupted fertilizer supply chains.
