Trump Orders Halt to All U.S. Trade With Spain
A sitting US president ordering a total trade cutoff with a NATO ally is unprecedented; combined with Greenland demands and troop-withdrawal threats, the summit has major implications for US trade, alliances, and markets.
The Morning Brief · July 8, 2026 · Based on reporting by AP News
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he has ordered all U.S. trade with Spain cut off. He made the announcement on the final day of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. Trump called Spain a "wasted cause". He said he directed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to halt trade after Madrid rejected the alliance's 5% defense spending target.
Trump also renewed his push for U.S. control of Greenland -- and Denmark said it would defend the territory. He floated withdrawing U.S. troops from Europe. Allies had sought to focus the summit on defense spending and Ukraine. And Trump launched new strikes on Iran during the summit.
Sources
AP News — Trump sidetracks NATO with new Iran strikes while in Turkey
Trump threw a major twist into the NATO summit in Ankara, launching strikes on Iran while allies tried to focus on defense spending and Ukraine.
CNBC — Trump pours cold water on NATO allies' united front
Trump criticized NATO allies over defense spending, attacked Spain for rejecting the 5% target, and renewed his push for US control of Greenland as Denmark vowed to defend it.
Fox News Politics — Trump demands end to trade with key US ally, calls it a 'wasted cause'
Trump called Spain a 'wasted cause' at the NATO summit and said he ordered Treasury Secretary Bessent to cut off all trade after Madrid rejected the 5% defense spending target.
