US President Donald Trump has lashed out at German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, accusing him of not knowing what he is talking about regarding Iran. The rebuke came after Merz criticised the US strategy in Iran, claiming the US was being ‘humiliated’ by Tehran’s leadership.
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! If Iran had a Nuclear Weapon, the whole World would be held hostage. I am doing something with Iran, right now, that other Nations, or Presidents, should have done long ago. No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both Economically, and otherwise!’
Merz had earlier stated that he could not see a ‘strategic exit’ for the United States from the conflict and accused the US of being outmanoeuvred in negotiations. ‘The Americans clearly have no strategy … The problem with conflicts like this is always that you don’t just have to go in; you also have to go out again. We saw that all too painfully in Afghanistan, for 20 years. We saw it in Iraq. So this whole affair is, as I said, ill-considered, to say the least,’ Merz said.
He also criticised the Iranian leadership, saying: ‘An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards. And so I hope that this ends as quickly as possible.’
Meanwhile, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 34%, the lowest of his current term, with the same percentage approving of his handling of the war against Iran. In a separate development, the United Arab Emirates announced it will leave the Opec oil producers’ group from 1 May, a move that could allow it to increase oil production.
