US President says he loves Spain and its people while escalating criticism of Pedro Sánchez’s government

Donald Trump has delivered one of his strongest attacks yet on Spain, but this time there was a notable shift in his language.

While again threatening trade consequences and describing Spain as a poor NATO ally, the US President also made a point of separating the country from its political leadership, insisting that he has affection for Spain and the Spanish people even as he condemned the government’s stance.

That distinction is becoming increasingly noticeable. Rather than portraying Spain itself as the problem, Trump’s latest remarks appear aimed more directly at Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the decisions taken by his government.

The comments came during the NATO summit in Ankara, where Trump accused Spain of failing to do enough on defence spending before calling the country ‘a terrible ally’ and saying he wanted to halt trade with Spain. The Spanish government responded calmly, stressing that relations between the two countries remain strong and noting that trade policy is negotiated by the European Union as a bloc rather than by individual member states.

A change in tone as Trump separates Spain from its leaders

Although Trump’s criticism of Spain is nothing new, his latest remarks suggest a more personal political strategy.

Instead of simply attacking Spain as a NATO member, he repeatedly contrasted the country and its people with the government currently in power. His message was that his dispute is with political decisions coming from Madrid rather than with Spain itself.

That approach allows Trump to maintain pressure on Sánchez while avoiding criticism of Spaniards more broadly. It also mirrors a tactic he has used elsewhere by praising a country’s people while blaming its leadership for policies he opposes.

The language is especially striking because it comes after weeks of increasingly pointed criticism of Sánchez over defence spending and Spain’s foreign policy positions. Earlier this month, Trump warned that “the Spanish are not behaving well”, but his latest intervention goes further by framing the disagreement as one with the government rather than with the nation.

Defence remains the trigger, but the politics now dominate

The background to the dispute remains Spain’s refusal to commit to NATO’s new target of spending 5 per cent of GDP on defence, together with broader disagreements over recent international security issues.

However, those policy differences now appear almost secondary to the political rhetoric.

Speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump claimed Spain was not contributing enough and said he had instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to halt trade with the country. Whether such measures could actually be implemented is another matter, as trade between the United States and EU member states is governed largely through agreements with Brussels rather than individual national governments.

For Madrid, the response has remained measured. Government officials insist that economic, cultural and social ties with the United States remain strong and point out that both countries continue to benefit from their long-standing relationship.

What happens next?

Could the US actually stop trading with Spain?
Not in the way Trump’s comments suggest. Spain is part of the European Union’s customs union, meaning trade agreements with the United States are negotiated by Brussels rather than Madrid. Any attempt to single out Spain would almost certainly trigger a wider EU response.

Could this affect British or foreign residents living in Spain?
At this stage, no. Trump’s remarks were political statements rather than announcements of immediate policy changes. There is currently no indication that residents, tourists or everyday trade between Spain and the US will be affected.

Is this likely to damage US–Spain relations in the long term?
That depends largely on how the dispute develops. Diplomatic disagreements over defence spending are not unusual within NATO, but Trump’s increasingly personal criticism of Pedro Sánchez risks making what began as a policy dispute feel more like a political confrontation between two governments.