WASHINGTON, United States, April 30, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald 
Trump renewed his criticism of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday, 
telling him to focusing on ending the Ukraine war instead of "interfering" on 
Iran.

Trump's second broadside of the week against Merz came a day after he said he 
was considering the redeployment of some of the tens of thousands of US 
troops stationed in key NATO ally Germany.

"The Chancellor of Germany should spend more time on ending the war with 
Russia/Ukraine (Where he has been totally ineffective!), and fixing his 
broken Country, especially Immigration and Energy," Trump said on his Truth 
Social network.

He added that Merz should spend "less time on interfering with those that are 
getting rid of the Iran Nuclear threat, thereby making the World, including 
Germany, a safer place!"

Trump was apparently infuriated by Merz's comments on Monday that Tehran was 
"humiliating" the United States in negotiations to end the US-Israeli war on 
Iran that has just entered its third month.

The US leader's comments also come a day after he had a call with Russian 
President Vladimir Putin that Trump said focused mostly on ending the war in 
Ukraine, which Moscow's forces invaded in February 2022.

Trump has long said he could bring a quick end to the war there but has made 
little progress.