作者： root

Pentagon orders withdrawal of 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany as Trump escalates feud with Merz

May 1, 2026 9:05pm EDT / Fox News

The Pentagon will withdraw 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany, a spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital.

The redeployment comes amid President Donald Trump’s escalating feud with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other NATO allies after tensions over their response to the conflict involving Iran.

“The Secretary of War has ordered the withdrawal of approximately 5,000 troops from Germany,” chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told Fox News Digital.

EUROPEAN LEADERS ON EDGE AS PROSPECT LOOMS OF TRUMP PULLING 20K TROOPS FROM CONTINENT

“This decision follows a thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theater requirements and conditions on the ground.

“We expect the withdrawal to be completed over the next six to twelve months.”

About 38,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Germany, where U.S. European Command is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base.(Getty Images)

About 38,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Germany, where U.S. European Command is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base. The base and other American installations have long served as key logistics hubs and command centers supporting U.S. military operations in Europe and the Middle East.

The U.S. troop presence in Germany has been a point of political debate in recent years. In 2020, Trump ordered the withdrawal of roughly 12,000 troops from the country, but the plan faced bipartisan resistance in Congress and was not completed before President Joe Biden took office.

Merz, speaking Monday in Marsberg, criticized the U.S. approach to Iran, saying Washington was being “humiliated by the Iranian leadership” and expressing hope the conflict would end “as quickly as possible.”

EU PUSHES FOR END OF IRAN WAR IN A MANNER WHERE ‘EVERYBODY SAVES FACE’

President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., March 3, 2026, to discuss issues including U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.(Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Trump’s comments followed those remarks, marking the latest flash point between the two leaders, who have previously clashed on issues, including tariffs and defense spending.

On Wednesday, Trump said in a Truth Social post his administration was “studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany,” adding that a decision would be made “over the next short period of time.”

He also sharply criticized Merz, saying he “doesn’t know what he’s talking about” regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

“The Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post Tuesday.

TRUMP’S ‘ECONOMIC FURY’ SQUEEZES IRAN — BUT CAN TEHRAN OUTLAST THE PRESSURE?

President Donald Trump speaks about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington on April 1, 2026.(Alex Brandon/AP)

“He doesn’t know what he’s talking about! If Iran had a Nuclear Weapon, the whole World would be held hostage.

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“I am doing something with Iran, right now, that other Nations, or Presidents, should have done long ago. No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both Economically, and otherwise!”

Fox News Digital’s Alex Koch and Peter Doocy contributed to this report.

Brittany Miller is a Breaking News Writer for Fox News Digital. Tips can be sent to brittany.miller@fox.com and @BrittMillerFox on X.

Bard College president to retire after revelations of his ties to Epstein

May 1, 2026 / 10:31 PM EDT / CBS/AP

The longtime president of Bard College announced his retirement Friday, months after it was revealed that he had a much deeper relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein than was previously known.

Leon Botstein, 79, who has been president of the small, liberal arts college in New York for a half century, will retire at the end of June, he wrote in a lengthy letter to the campus community.

In the letter, Botstein didn’t mention the scrutiny of his ties to Epstein, except to say that he had waited to announce his retirement publicly until the completion of an independent review of his relationship with the notorious sex offender that was published Thursday.

“I believe it was prudent and in the best interest of Bard to wait until the Wilmer Hale review was complete to make this announcement,” he wrote.

He said he would remain on Bard’s faculty as a teacher and musician.

“Our longtime President, Leon Botstein, announced today that he will be retiring from the presidency at the end of June,” the school said in a separate statement. “Over the course of fifty years, President Botstein has been a transformative leader with the vision and unwavering commitment that has shaped Bard into the world-class educational institution it is today.”

Bard’s trustees had enlisted the outside law firm WilmerHale to conduct an independent review of the communications between Epstein and Botstein. The review found that the president did not do anything illegal but “made decisions in the course of that relationship that reflect on his leadership of Bard,” according to a summary provided by the college.

“In his public statements and his statements to the Bard community, President Botstein minimized and was not fully accurate in describing his relationship with Epstein,” the review said.

Botstein was not accused of any involvement in Epstein’s exploitation and abuse of girls and women. But he was among a long list of prominent and notable men and women who maintained friendly relationships with him for years, despite his status as a convicted sex offender.

A trove of documents released by the Justice Department this year showed that Botstein and Epstein had met on multiple occasions, with Epstein sometimes arriving at Bard by helicopter. The president had also asked Epstein to be a guest at the 2013 graduation ceremonies and suggested they meet for an opera performance.

In addition, Botstein reached out to Epstein weeks after The Miami Herald reported new details on Epstein’s criminal prosecution in 2018, saying “I want you to know that I hope you are holding up as well as can be expected,” and had separately referred to his “friendship” with Epstein in at least two emails.

Epstein steered $150,000 to Botstein in 2016, which the president has previously said he donated to the college. Botstein has previously denied having a personal connection with Epstein, instead saying his contacts with Epstein were centered on fundraising for the college.

At one point, according to the review, Botstein disagreed with a senior faculty member who felt Bard should not engage with Epstein, concluding that the president “relied on his view that a person convicted of crimes involving sex with a minor—’an ordinary sex offender’, in his words—could be presumed to be rehabilitated in the same way that any other convicted person should, in his view, be given that presumption.”

“President Botstein forcefully argues that Bard’s need for funds was paramount. His view was, ‘I would take money from Satan if it permitted me to do God’s work,’” the review said.

The Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees at Bard, in a separate message, wrote that it is grateful for Botstein’s decades of service to the college, but added that the “concerns raised in recent months have been serious and deeply felt.”

“We are grateful to those who came forward to share their perspectives, and we recognize the importance of the questions that prompted this review and the deliberation that followed,” the committee wrote.

It said funds associated with Epstein will be directed to organizations that support survivors of sexual harm.

美国将从德国撤出约5000驻军

2026年5月2日 08:24 / 联合早报

美国将从德国撤出约5000驻军

五角大楼发言人说，预计从德国撤在5000驻军的行动将在六到12个月内完成。 （路透社）

美国战争部长赫格塞斯已下令在未来一年内，从德国撤出约5000名美军士兵。

法新社报道，五角大楼发言人帕内尔星期五（5月1日）发表声明说，预计撤军将在未来六到12个月内完成。这一决定是在对美国在欧洲的兵力部署进行全面评估后做出的，同时也考虑到战区的实际需求和实际情况。

美国总统特朗普本周前威胁要从北约盟国德国撤军，原因是德国总理默茨称德黑兰在谈判桌上“羞辱”了华盛顿，激怒了特朗普。

特朗普4月28日指默茨“认为伊朗拥有核武器没问题，“根本不知道自己在说什么”；29日，特朗普称正在“研究和评估”从德国撤军的可能性，很快就会做出决定。德国外交部长瓦德富尔30日说，德方“已对此做好准备”。

另据新华社报道，五角大楼官员介绍，部分撤离欧洲的美军部队可能会先返回美国，随后再重新部署至海外。此举旨在配合五角大楼的战略重点，将资源和精力集中于美国本土及印太地区。

美方官员说，此次撤军行动不会影响受伤美军人员被送至位于德国的兰施图尔地区医疗中心。该医疗中心是美国在海外设立的最大规模医院，曾收治在美国对伊朗战事中受伤的美军官兵。

在特朗普第一任期和本届任期，他都多次威胁要削减驻德国和其他欧盟国家的美军人数，称希望欧盟承担更大的国防责任，而不是依赖美国。

美国在德驻军是二战后同盟国军事占领德国以及美国构建军力全球部署的产物。目前，美军欧洲司令部和非洲司令部均设在德国斯图加特市。

德国拉姆施泰因空军基地是美国在中东、北非和南亚军事行动的主要后勤基地。据美国国防部数据，2025年底，美军共有超过3万6000人驻扎在德国。

美国将从德国撤出约5000驻军

2026年5月2日 08:24 / 联合早报

五角大楼发言人说，预计从德国撤在5000驻军的行动将在六到12个月内完成。 （路透社）

美国战争部长赫格塞斯已下令在未来一年内，从德国撤出约5000名美军士兵。

法新社报道，五角大楼发言人帕内尔星期五（5月1日）发表声明说，预计撤军将在未来六到12个月内完成。这一决定是在对美国在欧洲的兵力部署进行全面评估后做出的，同时也考虑到战区的实际需求和实际情况。

美国总统特朗普本周前威胁要从北约盟国德国撤军，原因是德国总理默茨称德黑兰在谈判桌上“羞辱”了华盛顿，激怒了特朗普。

特朗普4月28日指默茨“认为伊朗拥有核武器没问题，“根本不知道自己在说什么”；29日，特朗普称正在“研究和评估”从德国撤军的可能性，很快就会做出决定。德国外交部长瓦德富尔30日说，德方“已对此做好准备”。

另据新华社报道，五角大楼官员介绍，部分撤离欧洲的美军部队可能会先返回美国，随后再重新部署至海外。此举旨在配合五角大楼的战略重点，将资源和精力集中于美国本土及印太地区。

美方官员说，此次撤军行动不会影响受伤美军人员被送至位于德国的兰施图尔地区医疗中心。该医疗中心是美国在海外设立的最大规模医院，曾收治在美国对伊朗战事中受伤的美军官兵。

在特朗普第一任期和本届任期，他都多次威胁要削减驻德国和其他欧盟国家的美军人数，称希望欧盟承担更大的国防责任，而不是依赖美国。

美国在德驻军是二战后同盟国军事占领德国以及美国构建军力全球部署的产物。目前，美军欧洲司令部和非洲司令部均设在德国斯图加特市。

德国拉姆施泰因空军基地是美国在中东、北非和南亚军事行动的主要后勤基地。据美国国防部数据，2025年底，美军共有超过3万6000人驻扎在德国。

美国加大制裁古巴 古外长：坚决反对特朗普单边强制措施

2026年5月2日 09:47 / 联合早报

美国加大制裁古巴 古外长：坚决反对特朗普单边强制措施

5月1日，古巴民众在美国大使馆外举行劳动节游行，一人手举“放开古巴”标语牌。 （路透社）

美国总统特朗普星期五（5月1日）签署行政命令，以“威胁美国国家安全和对外政策”为由，加大对古巴制裁。

路透社引述两名美国官员说，新制裁措施是针对支持古巴政府安全机构、参与腐败或严重侵犯人权行为的个人、实体和附属机构，以及古巴政府代理人、官员或支持者。目前尚未公布具体制裁名单。

根据白宫1日发布的公告，美国政府除冻结在古能源、国防、矿产、金融等多领域经营的实体或个人资产和权益外，还禁止美国实体或个人与受制裁对象有资金、商品或服务往来，并限制受制裁对象入境美国。同时，相关联的外国金融机构也将受制裁。

古巴外长罗德里格斯在X平台表明，古巴坚决反对美国政府对古巴新采取的单边强制措施，称美国意图再次对古巴人民实施集体惩罚。

他说，美方宣布的措施违反《联合国宪章》，美国无权对古巴或任何第三国和相关实体施加这样的措施。

罗德里格斯说：“他们吓不倒我们。”

当天，古巴民众上街示威，谴责美国对古巴的经济封锁及能源限制。

美国长期对古巴实施经济、金融封锁、贸易禁运。今年年初，特朗普政府对委内瑞拉发动大规模军事打击后，进一步加大对古巴施压，包括实施新一轮石油限制措施。

特朗普多次威胁称，完成对委内瑞拉和伊朗的军事行动后，“下一个就是古巴”。

美国加大制裁古巴 古外长：坚决反对特朗普单边强制措施

2026年5月2日 09:47 / 联合早报

5月1日，古巴民众在美国大使馆外举行劳动节游行，一人手举“放开古巴”标语牌。 （路透社）

美国总统特朗普星期五（5月1日）签署行政命令，以“威胁美国国家安全和对外政策”为由，加大对古巴制裁。

路透社引述两名美国官员说，新制裁措施是针对支持古巴政府安全机构、参与腐败或严重侵犯人权行为的个人、实体和附属机构，以及古巴政府代理人、官员或支持者。目前尚未公布具体制裁名单。

根据白宫1日发布的公告，美国政府除冻结在古能源、国防、矿产、金融等多领域经营的实体或个人资产和权益外，还禁止美国实体或个人与受制裁对象有资金、商品或服务往来，并限制受制裁对象入境美国。同时，相关联的外国金融机构也将受制裁。

古巴外长罗德里格斯在X平台表明，古巴坚决反对美国政府对古巴新采取的单边强制措施，称美国意图再次对古巴人民实施集体惩罚。

他说，美方宣布的措施违反《联合国宪章》，美国无权对古巴或任何第三国和相关实体施加这样的措施。

罗德里格斯说：“他们吓不倒我们。”

当天，古巴民众上街示威，谴责美国对古巴的经济封锁及能源限制。

美国长期对古巴实施经济、金融封锁、贸易禁运。今年年初，特朗普政府对委内瑞拉发动大规模军事打击后，进一步加大对古巴施压，包括实施新一轮石油限制措施。

特朗普多次威胁称，完成对委内瑞拉和伊朗的军事行动后，“下一个就是古巴”。

Trump teases US will be ‘taking over’ Cuba ‘almost immediately’ in Florida speech

May 1, 2026 9:12pm EDT / Fox News

President referred to Cuba after honoring former Congressman Dan Mica

By Jasmine Baehr

President Donald Trump appeared to joke during remarks at the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches in Florida Friday that the U.S. would be “taking over” Cuba “almost immediately,” while recognizing attendees including former Rep. Dan Mica.

“And he comes from, originally, a place called Cuba, which we will be taking over almost immediately,” Trump said.

“Cuba’s got problems. We’ll finish one first. I like to finish a job.”

TRUMP AIMS TO RESET WAR POWERS CLOCK WITH CONTROVERSIAL BID TO BYPASS CONGRESS

President Donald Trump speaks during an event at The Villages Charter School in Sumterville, Fla., on Friday.(Thomas Simonetti/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Trump then riffed on a hypothetical show of American force.

“On the way back from Iran, we’ll have one of our big — maybe the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier — the biggest in the world,” he said.

“We’ll have that come in, stop about 100 yards offshore, and they’ll say, ‘Thank you very much, we give up.’”

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6394086776112

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The president did not elaborate further.

The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for clarification if the remarks were hypothetical or outlining policy plans.

Jasmine Baehr is a Breaking News Writer for Fox News Digital, where she covers politics, the military, faith and culture.

Trump says US Navy acting ‘like pirates’ to carry out naval blockade of Iranian ports

2026-05-02 02:00:01 UTC / Reuters

By Kanishka Singh

May 2, 2026 2:00 AM UTC Updated 1 hour ago

节点运行失败

A view of Iranian-flagged cargo ship M/V Touska as the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class Aegis guided missile destroyer USS Spruance conducts its interception in a location given as the north Arabian Sea, in this screen capture from a video released April 19, 2026. CENTCOM/Handout via REUTERS

WASHINGTON, May 1 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump said on Friday the U.S. Navy was acting “like pirates” in carrying out Washington’s naval blockade ​of Iranian ports during the U.S. and Israel’s war against Iran.

Trump ‌made the comments while describing the seizure by U.S. forces of a ship a few days ago.

The Reuters Iran Briefing newsletter keeps you informed with the latest developments and analysis of the Iran war. Sign up here.

“We took over the ship, we took over ​the cargo, we took over the oil. It’s a very ​profitable business,” Trump said in remarks on Friday evening. “We’re ⁠like pirates. We’re sort of like pirates but we are not ​playing games.”

Some of Tehran’s vessels have been seized by the U.S. after leaving ​Iranian ports, along with sanctioned container ships and Iranian tankers in Asian waters.

Iran has blocked nearly all ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz apart from its ​own since the start of the war. Trump has imposed ​a separate blockade of Iranian ports.

The U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February ‌28. ⁠Iran responded with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf states that host U.S. bases. U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed thousands and displaced millions.

The war has raised oil prices ​and led to the ​blockade of ⁠the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

Trump, ​who has offered shifting timelines and goals for the ​war that ⁠remains unpopular in the U.S., has faced widespread condemnation over his comments on the conflict, including when he threatened to destroy Iran’s ⁠entire civilization ​last month.

Many U.S. experts said last ​month that American strikes on Iran may amount to war crimes after Trump threatened to target ​civilian infrastructure.

Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Tom Hogue

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

伊朗最高领袖呼吁民众争取经济和文化斗争胜利

2026年5月2日 10:11 / 联合早报

4月30日是伊朗的“国家波斯湾日”，伊朗国家交响乐团在首都德黑兰的瓦赫达特音乐厅举行名为《伊朗之水》的音乐会。 （法新社）

伊朗最高领袖穆杰塔巴在五一劳动节呼吁伊朗人民争取经济和文化斗争的胜利，让敌人“失望”。

新华社报道，伊朗最高领袖办公室星期五（5月1日）发表声明说，穆杰塔巴在五一国际劳动节和5月2日伊朗教师节来临之际说，伊朗伊斯兰革命胜利47年来，伊朗已在军事斗争领域证明了自身实力，现在必须在经济和文化斗争领域让敌人“失望”并“击败”敌人。

穆杰塔巴指出，教师和工人在文化和经济斗争中最为有力，是文化和经济领域的脊梁。伊朗人民应像支持军队一样，支持教师和工人。

穆杰塔巴鼓励伊朗民众，优先消费国产商品，以支持产业工人；尤其是，受当前战事影响的企业主尽可能避免裁员和解聘员工，应将员工视为宝贵财富；各级政府也应在力所能及的范围内提供支持。

美国和以色列2月28日对伊朗发起大规模军事行动，伊朗展开反击。美伊4月上旬停火后，美国对伊朗实施海上封锁。

美国媒体报道，美国总统特朗普寻求对伊朗长期封锁，以摧毁伊朗经济，继而迫使伊朗在谈判中就范。特朗普4月30日再次称，美国对伊朗的海上封锁正在发挥作用，声称伊朗“经济正在崩溃，他们几乎拿不到石油收入”。

伊朗最高领袖呼吁民众争取经济和文化斗争胜利

2026年5月2日 10:11 / 联合早报

4月30日是伊朗的“国家波斯湾日”，伊朗国家交响乐团在首都德黑兰的瓦赫达特音乐厅举行名为《伊朗之水》的音乐会。 （法新社）

伊朗最高领袖穆杰塔巴在五一劳动节呼吁伊朗人民争取经济和文化斗争的胜利，让敌人“失望”。

新华社报道，伊朗最高领袖办公室星期五（5月1日）发表声明说，穆杰塔巴在五一国际劳动节和5月2日伊朗教师节来临之际说，伊朗伊斯兰革命胜利47年来，伊朗已在军事斗争领域证明了自身实力，现在必须在经济和文化斗争领域让敌人“失望”并“击败”敌人。

穆杰塔巴指出，教师和工人在文化和经济斗争中最为有力，是文化和经济领域的脊梁。伊朗人民应像支持军队一样，支持教师和工人。

穆杰塔巴鼓励伊朗民众，优先消费国产商品，以支持产业工人；尤其是，受当前战事影响的企业主尽可能避免裁员和解聘员工，应将员工视为宝贵财富；各级政府也应在力所能及的范围内提供支持。

美国和以色列2月28日对伊朗发起大规模军事行动，伊朗展开反击。美伊4月上旬停火后，美国对伊朗实施海上封锁。

美国媒体报道，美国总统特朗普寻求对伊朗长期封锁，以摧毁伊朗经济，继而迫使伊朗在谈判中就范。特朗普4月30日再次称，美国对伊朗的海上封锁正在发挥作用，声称伊朗“经济正在崩溃，他们几乎拿不到石油收入”。