Trump Strikes Back at German Chancellor Merz’s Iran Jabs
Donald Trump sharply criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s acceptance of Iran acquiring nuclear arms, warning such a scenario would endanger global security amid stalled US-Iran talks.
Donald Trump Responds to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Comments on US Approach to Iran
Donald Trump did not leave unanswered the statements of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz regarding the US approach to Iran. In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, the former American president called the view that Iran might acquire a nuclear weapon unacceptable.
“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz believes it is okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!” Trump wrote pointedly.
He warned that if Iran were to acquire such a weapon, “the whole world would become a hostage.” Trump defended the stance of his own administration, emphasizing that other countries or presidents should have acted earlier in a similar way.
Merz’s remarks were made on Monday during a speech to students at a school in Marsberg. The German Chancellor argued that the Iranian leadership, particularly the so-called Revolutionary Guards, humiliate the United States in negotiations.
He added that Washington lacks a clear strategy to end the conflict and that it is not enough to get involved in a war; one must also know how to exit it.
On the same day, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the Iranian leadership as “deeply internally divided,” with competing factions that limit the possibility of any agreement.
According to Rubio, Iranian officials often first have to negotiate among themselves before deciding what they can offer, while hardline elements with an “apocalyptic” worldview ultimately control the regime’s decisions.
Trump also stated that Iran has informed the US that it is in a “state of collapse,” with its members seeking an exit while attempting to resolve leadership issues.
Over the weekend, the American president canceled the dispatch of a US delegation to Islamabad, Pakistan, citing “huge internal disputes and confusion” within the Iranian leadership. As he noted, “no one knows who is really in control.”
In his post, Trump linked Merz’s stance to the difficulties Germany faces, both economically and more broadly. “It’s no wonder Germany is doing so poorly, economically and otherwise,” he remarked.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 28, 2026
These exchanges come at a time when indirect talks with Iran appear to have stalled, while the American side rejects ideas of further delays in addressing Tehran’s nuclear program.
