Trump's call to reduce US troops in Germany shocks Pentagon

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Politico

04/30/2026 01:28 PM EDT Updated: 04/30/2026 02:11 PM EDT


President Donald Trump’s announcement Wednesday that he was considering pulling some U.S. troops out of Germany stunned defense officials, who scrambled to figure out if the president was serious about following through on his threats this time.

Trump’s social media post was the first that many had heard of a potential new push to take hundreds, if not thousands, of American troops out of Germany, according to three defense officials. It strongly contrasts a recently concluded monthslong review of the Pentagon’s global troop footprint, which did not call for major pullbacks from Europe.

The Pentagon “was not expecting it and has not been planning any kind of drawdown,” said a congressional aide familiar with the situation. “But we have to take him seriously because he was serious about it during his first administration,” referring to Trump’s July 2020 order to pull 12,000 U.S. troops out of Germany that was never implemented.

While previous threats from Trump have not come to fruition, he’s ratcheted up his anti-European rhetoric in his second term, from threatening to pull out of NATO due to allies’ failure to join the Iran war to warning he might seize Greenland.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/30/trump-germany-troop-pullout-pentagon-shocked-00900619?utm_content=politico/magazine/Politics&utm_source=flipboard

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REFERENCE - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143658583

[ChicagoTeamster]

1. In light of his 40min call with Putin and King Charles pro NATO speech to Congress the day before

He may be saying that to placate the Russians or possibly Putin is demanding the US take more concrete steps to weaken NATO.

Or he might just be tweeting out his ass again. Who Knows? Did anybody ask Hegseth? Does he know?

[underpants]

2. I heard this crap on talk radio. The suck up host and guest of course agreed with Trump

They proposed that in spite infrastructure (which they mentioned) like hospitals maybe we should put troops in Poland, Romania, Finland, and Greece. Basically spread ourselves out and not have a central transportation hub like Ramstein.

[bluestarone]

3. Go ahead congress, let this fucker take America down to our knees

Jesus Christ almighty.

[MissouriDem47]

4. Trump Purpose Is to Help Putin and Russia

That his goal and that what he is doing.

[dave99]

5. less Ukraine takes out Russia.

[IronLionZion]

7. Will he offer to replace them with Russian troops?

[pat_k]

8. Missing from report: The felon is prohibited from "suspending, terminating, denouncing, or withdrawing" from NATO.

Last edited Fri May 1, 2026, 02:25 AM - Edit history (4)

Also missing from the report is that the felon is prohibited from reducing deployment in Europe below 76,000, which I understand is pretty close to the number we have deployed there. That prohibition is in Section 1225 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.

So, if he pulls troops out of Germany, where in Europe will he move them to?

Why the hell do they just report that he "threatens to pull out of NATO" without reporting that he is PROHIBITED from doing so by Section 1250A of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, which is codified as 22 U.S.C. § 1928f.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/22/1928f

22 U.S. Code § 1928f - Limitation on withdrawal from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

(a)Opposition of Congress to suspension, termination, denunciation, or withdrawal from North Atlantic Treaty

The President shall not suspend, terminate, denounce, or withdraw the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty, done at Washington, DC, April 4, 1949, except by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, provided that two-thirds of the Senators present concur, or pursuant to an Act of Congress.

I asked Gemini, "Who has standing to sue trump for violating 1250A of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act."

Here's the response:

Based on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 and legal analysis, standing to sue the President for violating Section 1250A is legally complex, but potential plaintiffs with standing might include:

Members of Congress: Individual members or houses of Congress could argue their legislative power to approve treaties (under Article II) or their specific statutory prohibition under Section 1250A has been undermined.

States: U.S. states could argue they suffer unique injuries from the loss of national security benefits provided by NATO, potentially impacting their National Guard units or state economies.

Private Citizens or Organizations: While difficult, individuals or groups might establish standing if they can prove a "concrete and particularized" injury that is directly traceable to the violations

.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. "Why the hell do they just report that he "threatens to pull out of NATO" without reporting that he is PROHIBITED"

Because EVERYTHING he has done this past year HAS BEEN PROHIBITED. And there will be no one to charge and arrest him because they all work for him, and will get a pardon after carrying out more illegal actions.

[pat_k]

10. I still want to hear them cite the laws he is breaking.

Every damn time.

Failing to do that normalizes the insanity.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. They already normalized his criminal behavior during the first term

and are too lazy or figure the "public" would just roll their eyes at the citing of criminal statutes.

[pat_k]

12. All I can say is thank heavens for independent media and DU.

... It's 21 years and counting for me here.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. +1 and congrats on the milestone

I have been here 18 years and the time has really flown by!