US President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw American troops from Spain and Italy due to their criticism of the war with Iran.

“Yeah, probably, I probably will. Why shouldn’t I?” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked if he would consider such a move. “Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible.”

It came a day after he said Washington was “studying and reviewing the possible reduction” of US troops in Germany.

The US president has lashed out at NATO allies for failing to help with the US-Israeli operation against Iran and for not sending their navies to open the Strait of Hormuz, which has essentially been closed by Tehran since the start of the war. 

Last week, a report said the US was considering suspending Spain from the military alliance as part of a range of possible measures to punish allies viewed as uncooperative.

As of December 2025, there were about 36,400 American troops based in Germany, as well as 12,662 in Italy and 3,814 in Spain. 

The Trump administration says a ceasefire in place since early April means the war with Iran has already ended for the purposes of an approaching congressional approval deadline.

Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, a president can wage military action for 60 days before ending hostilities or seeking authorization from Congress.

The Iran war began with US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28. US President Donald Trump formally notified Congress of the conflict 48 hours later, meaning the 60-day deadline would be May 1. The resolution also allows the deadline to be extended by 30 days.

A senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there had been no exchange of fire between US and Iranian forces since the ceasefire that began a little over three weeks ago.

“For War Powers Resolution purposes, the hostilities that began on Saturday, ​February 28, have terminated,” the official added, a position that means Trump would not have to seek congressional approval.

The statement came after US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said during a hearing in the Senate that it was the administration’s “understanding” that the ceasefire paused the 60-day clock. Democrats have disputed that interpretation, saying there are no legal grounds for such a pause.

Earlier, analysts had said they expected Trump to either disregard the deadline or notify Congress that he wanted a 30-day extension.

The ceasefire with Tehran has largely been holding, although Iran maintains its effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the US Navy continues to blockade Iranian ports.

Hello and thanks for joining us. Here’s a quick recap of what happened on Thursday:

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced a second day of questioning before the House Armed Services Committee over his handling of the Iran war.

Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said his country stands ready to contribute militarily to securing the Strait of Hormuz “if the relevant conditions are met,” adding that Iran must come to the negotiating table and stop holding “the entire world hostage.”

Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who took up the role after his father’s death in US-Israeli airstrikes, issued a statement saying Iran intended to both maintain a nuclear program and impose “new legal frameworks and management” for Hormuz, possibly including tolls.

Iran’s president said the US naval blockade of Iranian ports was in violation of international law and was doomed to fail.