More than half of Germans think Europe can defend itself WITHOUT the USA

The poll conducted by RTL/n-tv barometer also found that a large majority, 84 percent of Germans, also find Mr Trump’s claims that German will be “totally controlled by Russia” because of its natural gas imports to be “completely outlandish”. 

Only 37 percent or respondents think Europe relies on US military aid.

The minority in the survey, 28 percent, who agree with the US President were mostly supporters of the euro-sceptic Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

It is not the first public opinion poll to find a large majority of Germans doubting how much they need the US.

Another poll carried out in the same month and published by the New York Times revealed that 89 percent doubted Mr Trump’s reliability. 

This comes amid Donald Trump’s consistent threats for the US to quit Nato and yet more than half of Germans are convinced that Europe can provide its own security without US support.

Mr Trump has continuously threatened to pull the US out of Nato over the how much other member states contribute or are willing to contribute. 

On the first day of the Nato summit in Brussels Mr Trump tweeted: “Why are there only five out of 29 countries that have met their commitment?

“The US is paying for Europe’s protection, then loses billions on trade.”

Mr Trump demanded that Nato members increase their military spending to 2 percent of GDP “immediately, and not by 2025”, and declared that the “US spends too much”.

Raising concerns he may eventually withdraw from Nato, Mr Trump added that Europe’s borders were “bad”.

He claimed not enough money was being spent on defence, despite marked increases.

He said: “Billions of additional dollars are being spent by Nato countries since my visit last year, at my request, but it isn’t nearly enough.”

Mr Trump also took direct aim at Germany over the $11 billion Nord Stream 2 offshore natural gas pipeline from Vyborg in Russia to Greifswald in Germany.

Commenting on the project, Mr Trump wrote: “What good is Nato if Germany is paying Russia billions of dollars for gas and energy?

“Pipeline dollars to Russia are not acceptable!”

Angela Merkel rejected Mr Trump’s claims that Germany was “controlled by Russia”, and said her nation determined their own “independent policies”.

She said: “I am very glad that we are united today in freedom as the Federal Republic of Germany and that we can therefore also make our own independent policies and make our own independent decisions.”

Mr Trump is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on July 16.