Michael Hernandez
30 April 2026•Update: 30 April 2026
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he “probably will” withdraw US troops from Spain and Italy after threatening to do so in Germany amid a rift within NATO over his war against Iran.
Trump maintained that when the US “needed them, they were not there,” adding: “We have to remember that.”
“I probably will. Why shouldn’t I? You know, look, why shouldn’t I? Italy has not been of any help to us, and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible,” the US president told reporters in the Oval Office.
"It's NATO. It's not even the fact that they're bad. It's one thing if they said nicely, or if they said: 'Okay, we'll help, but the help is a little slow.' But the level, and we help them with Ukraine. You know, they made a mess out of Ukraine, a total mess, and we helped them with Ukraine," he added.
The announcement came one day after Trump said his administration is “studying and reviewing the possible reduction of troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period.” He did not provide further details.
His remarks came after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the US on Monday for lacking an “exit strategy” in the Iran war, saying Washington is being “humiliated” by Iran during ongoing talks.
The remarks drew a sharp rebuke from Trump, who said on Tuesday that Merz “doesn’t know what he’s talking about” and accused him of believing that it is “okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”
“I am doing something with Iran right now that other nations or presidents should have done long ago,” Trump said. “No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both economically and otherwise.”
