Mutual criticism… the Iran war reignites the rift between Trump and Merz

29th April 2026

1 minute read

Mutual criticism… the Iran war reignites the rift between Trump and Merz

U.S. President Donald Trump sharply criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the war in Iran.

In a post on his social media platform “Truth Social,” Trump said that “German Chancellor Friedrich Merz thinks it is fine for Iran to possess a nuclear weapon… He does not know what he is talking about!”

Merz made a series of remarks regarding the Middle East war during his visit on Monday to a school in Marsberg (western Germany).

He said: “It is clear that the Americans have no strategy. The problem in wars like these is that you not only have to go in, but you must also know how to get out again.”

He added: “We saw this in a very painful way in Afghanistan for twenty years. We saw it in Iraq.”

Merz stated that he could not see “which strategic exit the Americans will choose, especially since it is clear that the Iranians negotiate very skillfully, or do not negotiate very skillfully.”