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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump ordered his administration to cut off trade with Spain as he lashed out at the NATO ally for not contributing more financially to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's defense."Spain is a wasted cause. We don't want to do any trade with Spain anymore, by the way," Trump said on July 8 at the second day of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey."I'd like you to cut it off. Spain is a terrible partner in NATO," the president added, directing his remarks to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. "They don't participate. They don't pay. I don't want anything to do with Spain. Cut off all trade with Spain, please, including visits. Watch them come running back. Oh, they'll come running back."Trump made the remarks as he sat next to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who remained quiet as Trump bashed Spain. Trump said he is "not happy with NATO," citing the alliance's resistance to his push to acquire Greenland and the refusal of NATO members to help the U.S. carry out its war in Iran.Trump said he spoke to leaders of Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Italy seeking assistance in the Iran war ‒ but he didn't bother reaching out to Spain."They treat this man terrible," Trump said, gesturing toward Rutte. "Spain doesn't agree to anything, and you shouldn't carry them."Spain, a member of NATO since 1982, spends about 2% of its gross domestic product on defense, short of Trump's demand that allies spend 5%. NATO has a goal of 5% in defense spending by 2035.Trump, who also threatened a trade embargo on Spain in 2025, said he wants to end U.S. trade with Spain "immediately."The president has sweeping powers to restrict or block economic dealings involving foreign countries under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.However, to make such a move, the president must prove the country in question poses an "unusual or extraordinary threat" to U.S. national security, foreign policy or the economy, and declare the situation a national emergency.The United States imported $35.3 billion in goods from Spain in 2025, and exported goods totaling $39.2 billion."Don't even talk to them. They're hopeless," Trump said of Spain. "They're bad people. Because they have everyone else going and paying and working, and Spain ‒ in particular Spain, there are a couple of others ‒ they're open about it, they're hostile about it. Let's see how hostile they remain when they call up and they, 'Please, please. We want to trade with you, sir.'"They make so much money with us and we're going to see that they make a lot less. I want no business with them."Contributing: ReutersReach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
