Lol at all the countries freeloading on the US military who think the US is the largest threat to world peace. Especially countries like Germany (which spend only 1.2% of GDP on defense compared to 3.3% of GDP in the US) really should be more grateful.
They don't view it as freeloading. They view it is being part of an alliance they don't care for and being forced to host weapons they dislike on their soil.
Wouldn't the preferable option for Germany be to leave NATO, then?
Would not be surprised if this happens to be honest, if this TWO PERCENT arbitrariness is kept up. Germans don't want to go it alone, but they are uncomfortable with the military in general (even now, Germans routinely disapprove of NATO exercises in the Baltics) and the idea of their military being the most powerful in Europe kind of worries and disgusts the populace.
Basically both countries are at odds because America thinks Germany is gleefully freeloading, while Germany thinks America are asking for money for military adventures that they don't care about.