President Donald Trump said Thursday that he’s considering withdrawing American troops stationed in Italy and Spain due to the countries’ unwillingness to help with the Iran war.
Trump previously announced that the administration is “studying” a drawdown of U.S. forces in Germany, following a public spat with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The president has also frequently accused NATO members of failing to support American interests.
“Yeah, probably,” he answered when asked in the Oval Office if he was considering expanding his drawdown to Italy and Spain. “Why shouldn’t I?”
“Italy has not been of any help to us, and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible,” the president continued. “When we needed them, they were not there. We have to remember that.”
Though Merz has publicly backed Trump’s naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the German leader has also claimed that Iranian officials are making fools of Trump’s hand-picked ceasefire negotiating team.
“The Iranians are obviously very skilled at negotiating, or rather, very skillful at not negotiating, letting the Americans travel to Islamabad and then leave again without any result,” the chancellor said earlier this week. “An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards.”
TRUMP WEIGHING US TROOP REDUCTION IN GERMANY AFTER MERZ’S IRAN WAR CRITICISM
You can watch Trump’s comments in full below.
