The president of the United States, Donald Trump, criticized this Saturday how “badly” the economy is doing in Spain and its “horrendous” results, something that, according to the president, causes him sadness, a day after regretting that the Spanish Government did not support Washington in the war against Iran.
“Has anyone looked at how badly the country of Spain is doing? Its economic figures, despite contributing almost nothing to NATO and its military defense, are absolutely horrendous. It’s very sad to see!” he wrote on his Truth Social network.
Trump’s references to the Spanish economy contrast with the latest IMF forecasts for the country, since, despite pointing to more moderate growth than expected for 2026 – two tenths less -, they continue to place it above the rest of the large European economies and the euro zone average.
“They weren’t there for us!”
Furthermore, the international organization highlighted this week that Spain has a greater capacity to absorb the impact of the energy ‘shock’ derived from the war against Iran thanks to its investment in renewable energy.
Aside from the economic aspect, this Friday, the Republican had already referred to Spain in another message on the same social network.
“They were not there for us!” published the president, along with a screenshot of a news item from the American network CBS News on March 30 that reported on the Spanish Government’s position against the war.
All Trump’s reproaches to Spain
Trump has criticized on more than one occasion the decision of Pedro Sánchez’s Executive to close Spanish airspace to US aircraft carrying out missions against Iran and not authorize the use of the Morón and Rota bases in military operations.
After this refusal, the American has gone so far as to threaten to cut off all trade with Madrid and impose a trade embargo against the European country, which he has also described as a “terrible partner” of the Atlantic Alliance, for not committing to increasing its defense spending to 5% of GDP.
“Spain has absolutely nothing we need except great people. They have great people, but they lack great leadership,” Trump said in March.
The Spanish Government was one of the first in Europe to condemn the US and Israeli offensive in Iran, a position that other countries have joined due to the economic consequences derived from the conflict, in particular due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which remains at the center of tensions amid the current ceasefire.
