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

 

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

Relations between the U.S. and Germany reached a fresh low on April 30, 2026, as President Donald Trump escalated his personal feud with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. In a social media post, Trump told Merz to stop "interfering" in U.S. foreign policy and instead focus on "fixing his broken Country".

 

Core of the Dispute

The latest outburst was sparked by Merz’s recent criticism of the U.S. strategy in the Iran war.Merz's Criticism: Earlier in the week, Merz stated that the U.S. was being "humiliated" by Tehran and criticized Washington for lacking a "strategic exit" from the conflict.

Trump’s Response: Trump lashed out on Truth Social, arguing that Merz should spend more time addressing domestic German issues rather than criticizing those "getting rid of the Iran Nuclear threat".

 

Trump's Specific Criticisms

Trump identified several areas where he believes Merz’s leadership is failing:Domestic Issues: He explicitly highlighted Immigration and Energy as sectors where Germany is "broken".The Ukraine War: Trump claimed Merz has been "totally ineffective" in helping to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.Economic Performance: He asserted that Germany is "doing so poorly, both Economically, and otherwise" because of its leadership.

 

Wider Implications

This public spat comes at a time of significant tension within the NATO alliance:Troop Withdrawal Threats: Just one day prior to this attack, Trump announced that the U.S. is "reviewing" its military presence in Germany, with a decision on troop reductions expected shortly.

 

German Defense Spending: Despite the criticism, Germany's defense spending under the Merz government is projected to reach 3.1% of GDP in 2027, well above the 2% NATO target.

 

Merz’s Reaction: Chancellor Merz has attempted to de-escalate, reiterating Germany's commitment to a "reliable transatlantic partnership" and a "strong NATO" during a visit to a military base in Münster on Thursday.