• German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil blamed Donald Trump’s ‘irresponsible war in Iran’ for a significant drop in expected tax revenues.
  • German officials have slashed projected tax revenue for 2026-2030 by around €70 billion due to a global energy shock.
  • Chancellor Friedrich Merz infuriated Trump by suggesting the White House had been ‘humiliated’ by Iranian negotiators.
  • Trump threatened to withdraw thousands of US troops from Germany following Merz’s comments.
  • Germany has been critical of the war launched by the US and Israel against Iran on February 28, raising fears of a global economic downturn.
  • Merz stated that ’the Americans clearly have no strategy’ and he could not see ‘what strategic exit’ they were going to choose.

Sources & Links