German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) supported German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in his criticism of US President Donald Trump, saying that Germany “does not need advice“ from the American leader.
“We certainly don't need advice from Donald Trump. He needs to see the chaos he has created. He must ensure that serious peace talks take place in Iran,” Klingbeil said at a Labor Day event in Bergkamen, Ruhr area, DPA news agency reported.
“And I say this precisely in light of the events of the last few days, when he made comments about the German government and the chancellor,” the vice chancellor added.
Klingbeil criticized Trump’s strategy towards Iran. “I think he sincerely believed that it would be a matter of two or three days and everything would be fine,” the politician said.
“Now he has the responsibility to ensure that this war in Iran ends quickly. Above all, he must ensure that the costs of his war are not borne by us – "from workers, consumers and the economy," the German finance minister stressed.
Klingbeil noted that Europe must be economically strong enough "to not allow itself to be blackmailed." "I don't want to be dependent on Donald Trump's mood today or tomorrow," the minister concluded.
Earlier, the US president said that Merz had failed to find any basis in their dispute over a US-Israeli war with Iran, and that the German chancellor "did a terrible job."
On Monday, Merz accused Trump of "obviously entering this war without any strategy."
Earlier, the US president said that the US was considering reducing the number of troops stationed in Germany. The president did not specify why Washington might take such a step. However, this statement followed Merz's critical remarks about the US military operation against Iran.