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US reduces troops in Germany: Is Donald Trump breaking up with Friedrich Merz?!

May 8, 2026

Is the relationship between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and US President Donald Trump on the rocks?!. Is the exchange of political fire that saw Merz describe the US as “humiliated” by Iran – and Trump respond with troop withdrawals and tariffs – just a blip? Hosts Nina Haase and Michaela Küfner welcome DW’s Washington Bureau Chief Ines Pohl to analyse Trump’s latest blows against Germany.

https://p.dw.com/p/5DR4W

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:05 One year

03:16 Trump–Merz

06:07 Phone call?!?

07:55 US troops & Missiles

10:54 Iran war

14:07 “No strategy”

19:58 The economy, s****d!

25:35 That “Firewall”

28:25 far right AfD

33:28 Predictions

34:00 End

 

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About the show

Teaser Berlin Briefing NEU

DW Berlin Briefing

From Trump's victory, the German government collapse, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to evolving European security dynamics, this video podcast explores how these events impact Germany and the wider region.