US troop withdrawal from Germany shocks German politicians

The Trump administration plans a partial withdrawal of US military forces from Germany, causing outrage among German politicians who still operate as if in the Cold War era. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) criticizes the US president's lack of strategy in the Iran war, ignoring that US bases in Germany are used to conduct that war. German media highlight a few Republican politicians warning against Trump's NATO-damaging measures, but the new era of transatlantic erosion has already begun, with Germany playing only a minor role. Initially, reports said 5,000 troops would be withdrawn, sparking the first wave of outrage. Then Trump escalated with a second announcement during an informal press conference, causing further uproar.