BREAKING: Trump considers pulling 35,000 troops out of Germany, redeploying them to Eastern Europe: report

The outlet reported that a source close to the White House said, "Trump is angry that they [Europe] appear to be pushing for war." Around 160,000 active-duty US military personnel are positioned internationally, but a large quantity of those military members is in Germany. The movement of troops out of Germany may strain the EU's relationship with the US, the Telegraph reported.

US national security spokesman Brian Hughes said, "While no specific announcement is imminent, the US military is always considering the redeployment of troops around the world to best address current threats to our interests."

The troops would be sent to Hungary, a European Union country which vetoed a commitment to support Ukraine in the war with Russia earlier this week, the outlet reported. Trump is reportedly considering the movement of troops to countries that have increased their financial support of NATO. Trump has been slammed critical some NATO countries for not pulling their weight in the alliance.

Trump took similar steps in his first term where he withdrew 12,000 troops out of Germany. The US at the time had multiple major military bases at the time, including the US European Command headquarters, Ramstein Air Base. The move was later reversed by former President Joe Biden.

On Thursday, Trump told reporters at the White House, “When I came to NATO, when I first had my first meeting, I noticed that people weren’t paying their bills at all, and I said I should wait till my second meeting. And I did. And I brought that up, and I said, ‘If you don’t pay your bills, we’re not going to participate. We’re not going to protect you.’”

While speaking at CPAC last month, Vice President JD Vance suggested that US military resources could be taken out of Germany while slamming EU leaders over free speech issues.

"Germany’s entire defense is subsidized by the American taxpayer," Vance said at the time. "There are thousands upon thousands of American troops in Germany today. Do you think that the American taxpayer is going to stand for that if you get thrown in jail in Germany for posting a mean tweet? Of course, they’re not."

Earlier this week, European leaders held a day of emergency talks for the purpose of beefing up their own national security amid fears that the Trump administration will not continue to pay for the same level of military aid in Europe. Britain as well as France are both leading an effort to be prepared to put boots on the ground to ensure a peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine war is upheld.

“Achieving ‘peace through strength’ requires Ukraine to be in the strongest possible position, with Ukraine’s own robust military and defence capabilities as an essential component,” the EU leaders wrote in a joint statement.

"The European Union remains committed, in coordination with like-minded partners and allies, to providing enhanced political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people," the statement added.