German Chancellor, Friedrich Murch, appears to be at a breaking point in relations with the US president, Donald Trump, after the former’s statements on the war in Iran provoked a strong reaction from Washington and revived scenarios of a withdrawal of US forces from Germany.

The German chancellor has spent months walking a tightrope with Donald Trump. Now, it looks like he’s losing his balance, Politico describes the crisis in relations between the two leaders.

According to the publication, Murch had chosen to make more concessions than other European leaders, considering it critical to maintain good relations with Washington. At the same time, however, growing political pressure at home has led him to more intense criticism of the U.S. president, who is particularly unpopular with the German public.

Tensions came to a head after Merts made a school speech in which he claimed that the United Stateswas being “humiliated”by the Iranian regime. The statement prompted an immediate reaction from Trump, who, via the Truth Social platform, attacked the chancellor and left open the possibility of a withdrawal of US troops from Germany, a scenario that is a strategic nightmare for Berlin.

Murch sought to downplay the confrontation, assuring from a German military training ground that cooperation with the US and NATO allies remains strong. “We are working together with the United States and our allies in strategically critical locations,” he said, adding that the strengthening of the German armed forces was “for mutual benefit and to deepen the transatlantic bond.”

He appeared to be betting on the possibility of a de-escalation of tensions, estimating that Trump will not ultimately follow through on his threats, as has happened in the past with other countries such as the United Kingdom and Spain.

However, the US president continued the attacks, accusing Merts of focusing on the Russia-Ukraine war and Germany’s domestic problems, such as immigration and energy, rather than intervening on issues related to dealing with the Iranian nuclear threat.

The tension marks a significant change in the climate between the two leaders, as Trump had previously expressed positive views of the Murch administration, and in a meeting at the White House had described him as a “friend” doing a “very good job.” The German chancellor’s strategy was based on avoiding public confrontation in order to maintain openchannels of communication and influence US decisions behind the scenes.

According to Politico, this approach reflects Germany’s overall strategy towards the US at a time when transatlantic relations are being tested. Despite efforts to reduce dependence on Washington militarily and economically, Berlin still considers US support essential, especially in the area of nuclear deterrence and information sharing.

Despite the tensions, German officials appear cautiously reassuring, stressing that the presence of US forces in the country also serves the strategic interests of the US. Social Democratic Party MP Christoph Schmidt said an immediate withdrawal “is not feasible” and would weaken the operational capabilities of the US military internationally.

It will be recalled that during his first term, Trump had announced a plan to withdraw some9,500 US troops from Germany, but it did not materialize as his presidential term ended before its implementation and Joe Biden’s administration suspended the initiative.

Today, with more time at his disposal, Trump could theoretically reinstate the plan, though for Murch the biggest risk may be a loss of influence in the White House, particularly in terms of support for Ukraine.