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... Donald Trump's German grandparents may have known the word for what some European officials now feel, as they watch him complain that America's traditional allies have let him down: Schadenfreude.

Having spent a year criticizing, insulting and threatening European leaders, Trump now sees the value of having friends in strategically important places -- if they have military assets he can use, anyway.

The U.S-Israel war against Iran would have been a lot easier in its opening days if British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hadn't denied American bombers permission to take off from U.K. airbases, Trump complained this week.

Starmer, however, is standing his ground, refusing to authorize anything more than "defensive" operations from Royal Air Force facilities in the U.K. and overseas.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Snchez is also playing hardball with Trump, condemning what he regards as a law-breaking operation in the Middle East and similarly refusing to let American planes take off from airfields under his control. Snchez incurred Trump's rage as a result.

And French President Emmanuel Macron " ever the critical friend " called the Iran war dangerous, warning it doesn't comply with international law and couldn't be supported. ...