NPR News: 05-02-2026 10PM EDT

President Trump announced plans to sharply reduce U.S. troop presence in Germany beyond an initial 5,000 withdrawals, citing criticism from German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz over U.S. strategy in Ukraine and Iran talks. This NPR News Now roundup also covers Spirit Airlines' shutdown amid soaring jet fuel prices tied to the war in Iran, a controversial new oil pipeline proposal, Bard College president's retirement linked to Jeffrey Epstein ties, and the Kentucky Derby winner.

U.S. Troop Drawdowns from Germany Escalate Tensions

While boarding Air Force One in Florida, President Trump told reporters that the withdrawal of 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany—prompted by Mertz's public criticism—would be followed by far deeper cuts: "We're going to cut way down and we're cutting a lot further than five thousand." Mertz had questioned the effectiveness of U.S. envoys in Iran talks held in Pakistan, calling them lacking a "truly convincing strategy," and labeled Trump "totally ineffective on Ukraine" in response to Trump's Truth Social post branding the chancellor ineffective.