Sketchy Sourcing: Trump considering pulling 35,000 US troops out of Germany, becoming ‘increasingly frustrated’ with Europe

posted by Sundance at CTH 

As much as we may want this to actually happen, the sourcing for the original claim is rather dubious. “A source close to the White House told The Telegraph: “Trump is angry that they [Europe] appear to be pushing for war.””

Obviously, President Trump is not happy with the EU or with Germany specifically.  Additionally, in President Trump’s first term, then U.S. Ambassador to Germany, Ric Grenell, delivered the message to Angela Merkel that President Trump was willing to move troops out of Germany.  However, there’s no direct sourcing that President Trump is reinitiating that approach.

When we think about the arrows in the quiver of Trump to bring the EU to the peace negotiation table, the movement of U.S. troops stationed in the EU is one of those very targeted arrows.  But the sourcing on the claim that it’s a current discussion point is not very affirming. So, proceed with caution.

GB News – US President Donald Trump is deliberating pulling troops out of Germany and relocating them to eastern Europe in another potential snag to Washington’s relationship with Europe.

The speculation comes after the President said that he was finding it more difficult to deal with Ukraine and that it may be easier to deal with Russia as his administration seeks to reach a peace agreement.

Approximately 160,000 active-duty personnel are stationed outside of the United States, a large amount are in Germany.

A source close to the White House told The Telegraph: “Trump is angry that they [Europe] appear to be pushing for war.”

It comes after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán vetoed a commitment to bolster support for Ukraine which was signed by all other member states. Orbán has maintained a relatively closer relationship with Russia, often opposing EU sanctions on Moscow.

Meanwhile, Trump has also paused military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine to pressure Kyiv to accept a ceasefire deal after an explosive Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky a week ago. (read more)

President Trump has to put pressure on the EU to create the space for peace talks because it is the EU now supporting Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his effort to keep the war going.