Germany's vice chancellor: We don’t need any tips from Trump

On May 1, German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil sharply criticised US President Donald Trump over his recent remarks targeting Chancellor Friedrich Merz in connection with the war in Iran, saying Europe should not be dependent on Washington’s political stance.

"We really don’t need any tips from Donald Trump," said Klingbeil at an International Workers' Day event in the Ruhr region, a former German industrial heartland, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

"He should have a look at the shambles he's created," Klingbeil added. "He should ensure that serious peace talks are now held in Iran."

The exchange comes amid an escalating political spat between Berlin and Washington over the conflict in Iran and broader security policy. Merz earlier this week accused the Trump administration of entering the war "quite obviously ... without any strategy at all" and said the US had been "humiliated" by Tehran.

Trump responded with a strong rebuke, saying the German leader "doesn't know what he’s talking about!"

The US president has since intensified his criticism, warning of a possible reduction in US troop numbers stationed in Germany. He also urged Merz to "spend more time on ending the war with Russia/Ukraine" and on "fixing his broken Country."

Merz, meanwhile, has sought to downplay tensions, saying on Wednesday that his relationship with Trump "remains – at least from my point of view – as good as ever."

Klingbeil, who leads the Social Democrats (SPD) and serves as finance minister in Merz’s coalition government, backed the chancellor while reiterating his criticism of Trump’s approach to the conflict.

“I think he really believed this would be a matter of two or three days and then everything would be fine,” Klingbeil said of the war in Iran.

"He now bears the responsibility for ensuring that this war in Iran comes to a swift end."

“Above all, he must ensure that the burdens caused by his war do not fall on us, on workers, on consumers and on the economy.”

He also stressed the need for Europe to strengthen its economic position to avoid external pressure.

"I do not want us to be dependent on whatever mood Donald Trump is in today or tomorrow."

By Aghakazim Guliyev