President Trump Orders Response to ‘Hostile’ Ally
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he wants the United States to halt all trade with Spain, escalating a long-running dispute over the country's defense spending and its relationship with NATO.
Speaking during a news conference in Ankara, Turkey, Trump directed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to cut off trade with the European nation, arguing that Spain has failed to meet its obligations within the military alliance.
"Spain is a wasted cause," Trump said in remarks posted to X.
Turning to Bessent, Trump added, "We don't want to do any trade business with Spain anymore, by the way. I'd like you to cut it out."
Trump's criticism centered on Spain's defense spending, an issue he has repeatedly raised while urging NATO members to contribute a larger share toward the alliance's collective security. According to the remarks, Trump also referenced Spain's position during the conflict involving Iran, saying the country did not allow the United States to launch missions from the U.S. bases at Morón and Rota.
Calling Spain "a terrible partner in NATO," Trump argued that the country has failed to contribute its fair share.
"They don't participate, they don't pay. I don't want anything to do with Spain," Trump said.
He then instructed Bessent to move forward with the trade cutoff.
"Cut off all trade with Spain, including visits," Trump said. "We don't want anything to do... Watch them come running back. They'll come running back."
Trump also criticized Spain's relationship with NATO leadership, gesturing toward Secretary General Mark Rutte while discussing the dispute.
.@POTUS: "Spain is a wasted cause. We don't want to do any trade business with Spain anymore by the way... Spain is a terrible partner in NATO. They don't participate, they don't pay. I don't want anything to do with Spain." pic.twitter.com/3prqux6p54
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 8, 2026
"Spain doesn't agree to anything and you shouldn't carry them," Trump said, suggesting NATO may feel obligated to continue protecting Spain despite its level of defense spending. "But we don't have to. We don't have to trade with them. I don't want to do any trade with them. No more trade with them. Alright? Immediately. Don't even talk to them."
He continued his criticism by describing Spain as "hopeless" and accusing its government of maintaining a hostile attitude toward paying what he considers its fair share for Europe's defense.
"Let's see how hostile they remain when they call up and they say, 'please, please we want to trade with you, sir, we want to trade with you sir,'" Trump said. "They make so much money with us and we're going to see that they make a lot less."
According to Reuters, Bessent acknowledged the instruction during the exchange, replying at one point, "Yes, sir."
Despite Trump's criticism, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte noted that Spain has increased its defense spending in recent years. Speaking during the same news conference, Rutte said Trump had previously succeeded in pressuring Spain to raise its military budget.
"You got Spain to pay 2 percent. They spent, they made a huge step in last year," Rutte said, while acknowledging that there were still "issues we have to solve" regarding Spain.
Spain's defense spending has increased from 1.4 percent of gross domestic product in 2021 to approximately 2.1 percent in 2025. That figure, however, remains below the higher spending targets that Trump has consistently advocated for among NATO allies.
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker also addressed the ongoing disagreements over defense spending, characterizing the dispute as part of a broader adjustment within the alliance rather than a permanent rupture.
"I see these as just the challenges that we've worked through before," Whitaker said.