Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg-sNQf-X-0
Sources:
President Trump ordered his Treasury Secretary to cut off all trade with Spain, calling it a “terrible partner.” Trump said on July 8, 2026 he had ordered Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to halt all trade with Spain, calling Madrid a “terrible partner” in NATO, speaking alongside Secretary General Mark Rutte at the Ankara summit — Reuters (via U.S. News & World Report)
The stated reason was Spain refusing NATO’s 5% defense-spending target. Spain is the only NATO member that has not committed to spending 5% of GDP on defense by 2035, the point of dispute Trump cited — CNBC
This is also about Iran, since Madrid publicly refused to back the U.S. war and called it an “extraordinary mistake.” Reuters framed the trade order as escalating tensions over both defense spending and the Iran war, noting Sánchez had condemned the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran as an “extraordinary mistake” — Reuters (via U.S. News & World Report)
He told Scott Bessent to take it “immediately,” and added, “including visits.” Trump said “Cut off all trade with Spain, please, including visits” and “take it immediately,” addressing Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent — The Hill
The Constitution puts the power to tax and regulate trade with Article I — Congress. The Supreme Court held that Article I, Section 8 vests the power to lay tariffs and regulate commerce in Congress, and that the President may impose tariffs only pursuant to delegated authority — Congressional Research Service
In February, the Supreme Court reaffirmed exactly that, striking down Trump’s emergency tariffs and ruling that no statute lets the president set trade policy on his own say-so. In its February 2026 ruling, the Supreme Court held that IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs, applying the major questions doctrine and noting Congress delegates tariff power only in explicit, limited terms — Congressional Research Service
Spain doesn’t negotiate trade as Spain. It’s inside the European Union’s customs union — trade is set for the whole bloc. The Spanish Prime Minister’s Office stressed that the European Union is a trading bloc in which no single member can be singled out — Newsweek
He gave the same order back in March. Trade with Spain continued normally. It was the second time Trump instructed Bessent to halt commerce with Spain; after his first such order in March, trade between the two countries continued normally — Reuters (via U.S. News & World Report)