German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited President Donald Trump at the White House Tuesday morning, and Trump allowed reporters into the Oval Office during the visit for a press conference.
The visit comes as the United States and Israel are now in the 4th day of massive airstrikes against Iran.
Merz started out by telling Trump, “We are on the same page in terms of getting this terrible regime in Tehran away.”
A reporter asked Trump, “Did Israel force your hand to launch these strikes against Iran?”
Trump responded, “No. I might have forced their hand… You see, we were having negotiations with these lunatics [Iran], and it was my opinion that they were going to attack first. They were going to attack if we didn’t do it… Based on the way the negotiation was going, I think [Iran] was going to attack first, and I didn’t want that to happen — so if anything, I might’ve forced Israel’s hand.”
“But Israel was ready, and we were ready, and we’ve had a very powerful impact,” Trump added. “We’ve had a very, very powerful impact because virtually everything they have has been knocked out now. Their missile count is going way down.”
Q: “Did Israel force your hand to launch these strikes against Iran? Did Netanyahu pull the United States into this war?”
President Trump: “No. I might have forced their hand.” pic.twitter.com/YrlwL8ZhCi
— CSPAN (@cspan) March 3, 2026
Trump announced he is cutting off all trade with Spain.
On the support of other nations regarding the Iran airstrikes, Trump said, “Some of the European nations have been helpful, and some haven’t—and I’m very surprised. Germany’s been great… Spain has been terrible. In fact, I told Scott to cut off all dealings with Spain.”
Spain‘s leftist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had declared that the US military is not allowed to use their bases in the Iran operation.
Trump noted the problems started when every other European nation was willing to pay 5% for NATO but Spain refused. He said they’re not evening paying the 2% they had first agreed to.
“We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain,” he added.
“By the way, I’m not happy with the U.K. either,” he added.
President Trump: “Spain has been terrible. In fact, I told Scott to cut off all dealings with Spain… Spain actually said that we can’t use their bases. And that’s all right. We could use their base if we want. We could just fly in and use it. Nobody’s going to tell us not to… pic.twitter.com/lWnHr1YZwd
— CSPAN (@cspan) March 3, 2026
“Something had to be done. It’s been 47 years. They’ve been killing people all over the world for a long time… They were really a purveyor of terror all over the world for many, many years,” Trump also said of Iran.
One reporter noted that many countries who don’t normally work together are now united against Iran, and asked, “Why are we seeing such unity around the world against Iran?”
REPORTER: Why are we seeing such unity around the world against Iran? @POTUS: “They’re just evil. It’s not the politics, it’s their whole philosophy… it’s terrible, where they kill 35,000 [people]… it’s just a very evil ideology.” pic.twitter.com/xab9ukxF3s
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 3, 2026
“If we didn’t do what we’re doing right now, you would’ve had a nuclear war and they would’ve taken out many countries because you know what? They’re sick people. They’re mentally ill, sick people. They’re angry. They’re crazy. They’re sick,” Trump also said of the radical Iranian Islamic regime.
Trump acknowledged that although the top leadership in Iran has been eliminated, someone just as bad could emerge to take over.
“I guess the worst case would be we do this and then somebody takes over who’s as bad as the previous person, right? That could happen.”
“I guess the worst case would be we do this and then somebody takes over who’s as bad as the previous person, right? That could happen.”
President Trump responds to a question on potential consequences of Iran War. pic.twitter.com/qD8v37joct
— MS NOW (@MSNOWNews) March 3, 2026
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