President Donald Trump escalated his war of words with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday, responding sharply to Merz's claim that the United States is being humiliated by Iran in ongoing nuclear negotiations.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: "The Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!" Trump warned that a nuclear-armed Iran would hold "the whole World hostage," and defended his administration's approach, saying, "I am doing something with Iran, right now, that other Nations, or Presidents, should have done long ago." He added: "No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both Economically, and otherwise!"
The exchange began Monday when Merz told students in Germany that the Americans lack a coherent strategy. According to a translated transcript, Merz said: "Especially since the Iranians are negotiating very skillfully — or rather, very skillfully not negotiating. And then letting the Americans travel to Islamabad, only to send them back without any results. An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards."
Merz also drew parallels to past US military engagements, noting that the "problem with conflicts like these is always the same: it’s not just about getting in; you also have to get out. We saw that all too painfully in Afghanistan, for 20 years. We saw it in Iraq."
Trump has increasingly criticized European allies who have not fully supported his Iran strategy. Germany, Spain, and Great Britain have all come under fire for not deploying naval assets to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though Merz has said Germany is willing to send minesweepers once fighting stops.
The diplomatic friction comes as Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner were scheduled to travel to Pakistan for new negotiations over the weekend, but the president canceled the trip at the last minute. Trump told reporters Saturday that Iran "gave us a paper that should have been better," and that ten minutes after he called off the visit, "we got a new paper that was much better." He added Tuesday that Iran has told the US it is in a "State of Collapse" and wants the strait opened "as soon as possible."
This is not the first time Merz has challenged Trump's leadership. At the Munich Security Conference earlier this year, he declared that the US "claim to leadership has been challenged and possibly lost." The ongoing rift underscores deeper tensions between Washington and Berlin over both Iran policy and broader strategic priorities.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration continues to face domestic criticism over its foreign policy posture. Some lawmakers have argued that the president's aggressive rhetoric toward allies, as seen in his attacks on Merz, undermines US credibility abroad. Others, however, praise his tough stance on Iran.
As the situation develops, the Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint, with global energy markets watching closely. The Trump administration has also faced legal challenges on other fronts, including a recent ruling that struck down its mass detention policy and mandated bond hearings, as reported by The World Signal.
