Trump Envoy Grenell Says US Cannot Trust German Chancellor Merz’s Words

Richard Grenell, described by TASS as an envoy of US President Donald Trump, said the United States cannot trust the statements of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the Russian state news agency reported on Wednesday.

According to TASS, Grenell said Merz is angered by American pressure on Berlin to fulfill its financial obligations under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). "Merz is mad that Americans want the German government to pay its NATO obligations," Grenell was quoted as saying.

TASS did not provide further details on the context of Grenell’s remarks, including where or when they were made, nor did it include a response from Merz’s office or the German government.

NATO members have faced ongoing pressure from Washington in recent years to increase defense spending toward the alliance’s guideline target, a longstanding point of friction between the United States and several European allies, including Germany.

Reuters and other international outlets could not immediately be reached to independently verify the remarks attributed to Grenell. This report is based solely on the TASS dispatch.