US President Donald Trump speaks to journalists before boarding Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport, Palm Beach, Florida, May 2, 2026. ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP
President Donald Trump on Saturday, May 2, doubled down on Washington's decision to withdraw 5,000 US troops from Germany, as a rift in transatlantic ties deepens over the Middle East war. The Pentagon announced the 5,000-troop reduction on Friday, but Trump told reporters Saturday "we're going to cut way down, and we're cutting a lot further than 5,000." He did not elaborate.
The move follows a spat between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said on Monday that Iran was "humiliating" Washington at the negotiating table.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Friday the withdrawal was expected "to be completed over the next six to 12 months." NATO said it was "working with the US to understand the details of their decision on force posture in Germany."
"This adjustment underscores the need for Europe to continue to invest more in defense and take on a greater share of the responsibility for our shared security," wrote NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart on X.
