<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two top American legislators from </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="_blank" title="Donald Trump's party"><span>Donald Trump's party</span></a><span> have slammed the president's move to withdraw 5000 US troops based in Germany, saying it sends the wrong message to Russia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Pentagon announced last Friday the troops would be withdrawn, making good Trump's threat after he clashed with the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, over the US war with Iran.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the decision has been criticised by US Republican politicians Roger Wicker and Mike Rogers, who chair the Senate and House armed services committees respectively.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-may-4donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/5d0eb4fe-9c97-450b-86e1-1bdb15badd54" rel="" target="_blank" title=" Iran threatens to blow conflict wide open"><strong><span>Iran threatens to blow conflict wide open</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The pair suggested that instead of pulling the troops out, they should be deployed further east to deter attacks on Western Europe.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a joint statement, they say they're "very concerned by the decision to withdraw a US brigade from Germany" as NATO allies raise their military budgets.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Prematurely reducing America's forward presence in Europe before those capabilities are fully realised risks undermining deterrence and sending the wrong signal to Vladimir Putin," the statement said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-troops-cut-in-germany-lammed-by-republican-lawmakers/67b894ac-2185-4249-a812-ec212041dcb4" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Rather than withdrawing forces from the continent altogether, it is in America's interest to maintain a strong deterrent in Europe by moving these 5000 US forces to the east."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The senior Democrat on the House armed services committee, Adam Smith, said the Pentagon decision was based on "the hurt feelings of a president who is seeking political vengeance".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/trump-keeps-us-up-in-the-air-with-his-hints-of-whats-coming-in-a-new-batch-of-ufo-files/ada29a56-2f81-4d56-a40c-4e2d1f9a4452"><strong><span>Trump teases 'very interesting' UFO files in new document dump</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Germany hosts several US military facilities, including the headquarters of its European and Africa commands, Ramstein Air Base and a medical centre in Landstuhl, where casualties from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were treated.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>US nuclear missiles are also stationed in the country. The number of troops leaving Germany would be 14 per cent of the 36,000 American service members stationed there.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump's move to cut the troops was sparked by Merz's comments last week the US was being "humiliated" by the Iranian leadership and criticised Washington's lack of strategy in the war.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The US president also called out Spain and Italy for not helping the US campaign against Iran.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Asked last week if he would consider withdrawing US troops in those countries, Trump responded: "Probably… look, why shouldn't I? Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span> </span><em><span>- With Associated Press</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>