U.S. President Donald Trump has once again directed harsh criticism towards Spain, labeling it a "ruined country" during a recent interview with the British channel GB News.
The remarks, reported by EFE, mark the latest verbal escalation from the Republican leader against Pedro Sánchez's government this year.
"Spain will become a ruined country. I have issues with Spain because it is not acting properly in relation to NATO and is not paying what it should," Trump stated in the interview.
He described the situation as "terrible," arguing that other Atlantic Alliance partners have agreed to increase their military spending while Spain, according to him, says, "I won't pay."
While Spain reached 2% of its GDP in defense spending by 2025, Trump demands that allies allocate 5%, repeatedly pointing to Sánchez's administration as the most unruly within the Alliance.
Ceuta Crisis: A Flashpoint
In the same interview, Trump referenced the social and political crisis overwhelming the city of Ceuta since July 30, when over 70,000 individuals crossed illegally from Morocco into the Spanish enclave, marking the worst illegal migration surge the territory has seen in recent years.
"What's happening there is very sad to see... Thousands of people are storming into their country. I've never seen anything like it," expressed the president.
The Ceuta crisis resulted in more than 70 fatalities, according to subsequent journalistic accounts, and had repercussions across Europe: three EU countries called for Spain's expulsion from the Schengen area following the border breach, with Italy even temporarily suspending the agreement.
US-Spain Relations Under Strain
Following the crisis, the U.S. State Department accused Sánchez's government of "facilitating and promoting mass illegal migration into Europe," describing the events as a "direct result of the Spanish government's deliberate efforts."
Tensions between Washington and Madrid have persisted since the start of Trump's second term. A significant point of contention was Spain's refusal to authorize the use of Rota and Morón military bases for Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. and Israel's offensive against Iran in February 2026, which Spain deemed "illegal."
During the NATO summit in Ankara in July, Trump labeled Spain a "lost cause" and verbally instructed his Treasury Secretary to sever all bilateral trade, which amounts to about $46 billion annually.
Trump has used the images from Ceuta as a central visual argument in his campaign for the upcoming November 3 legislative elections, warning that something similar could happen in the U.S. if the Democrats regain power.
"It's terrible. Remember that image. That will happen to us in three years if the wrong side comes into power," the Republican leader declared from Camp David at the end of July.
Questions About Trump's Criticism of Spain
Why did Trump criticize Spain in his interview?
Trump criticized Spain for not fulfilling its financial obligations to NATO and for its handling of the migration crisis in Ceuta.
What was the impact of the Ceuta crisis on Europe?
The Ceuta crisis led to over 70 deaths and caused several EU countries to consider expelling Spain from the Schengen area due to the breach of its borders.