German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the US was being “humiliated” by Iran

On 28 April 2026, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the US was being ‘humiliated’ by Iran in the talks. Trump hit back, saying Merz ‘doesn’t know what he is talking about’ on the Iran war and nuclear stance. Kurier quotes Trump as adding: ‘No wonder Germany is doing so badly’.

Frankfurter Allgemeine wrote that Merz said his personal relationship with Trump is unchanged and good. Separately in Germany, Merz rejected an SPD push on the debt brake, and Lars Klingbeil spoke at an SPD meeting in Bielefeld about a moment when the chancellor shouted at him.