Administration Trump lambasts UK’s Starmer, Spain over Iran by Julia Manchester - 03/03/26 12:52 PM ET by Julia Manchester - 03/03/26 12:52 PM ET Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email NOW PLAYING President Trump publicly lambasted U.K. Prime Minister Kier Starmer and Spain over the countries’ stances on the recent U.S. strikes in Iran.  “Some of the European nations have been helpful, and some haven’t, and I’m very surprised,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, sitting alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.  The president added that Germany has “been great” in terms of their response to the U.S. strikes in Iran, and called Nation “Spain has been terrible,” he continued. “In fact, I told [Treasury Secretary] Scott [Bessent] to cut off all dealings with Spain.”  The president cited Spain’s refusal to increase their defense spending along with other NATO member countries, and the country’s refusal to allow the U.S. to use their bases as apart of the operation in Iran.  “We can use their base if they want. We can just fly in and use it. Nobody’s going tell us not to use it,” he said.  “We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain,” he declared, before ripping into Starmer.  “And by the way, I’m not happy with the U.K. either,” he said. “ Trump condemned the U.K.’s move to give up the Chagos Islands, which is home to the Diego Garcia military base, up to the east African country of Mauritius.  “This is not Winston Churchill,” Trump said.  The president reiterated his displeasure with the two countries later in the meeting.  “Spain has been very, very uncooperative, and so has the UK. Now the second one is shocking, but this is not is not the age of [Winston] Churchill,” he said. “The U.K. has been very, very uncooperative with that stupid island that they have,” he added, referring to the Chagos.  “They ruin relationships. It’s a shame,” he said.  On Monday, Starmer said the U.K. does not support joining air operations against Iran, despite joining defensive operations in the region.  “This government does not believe in regime change from the skies,” Starmer said.  Spain said on Sunday that it would not allow the U.S. to use its air bases for operations related to the war in Iran.  “The joint-use bases, but under Spanish sovereignty, will not be used for anything not included within the treaty nor outside the U.N. Charter,” Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said during a Sunday broadcast appearance, according to a translation from RTVE.  Add as preferred source on Google Tags Friedrich Merz Winston Churchill Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email More Administration News See All Administration Live updates: Trump says he 'might have forced' Israel's hand in Iran strikes; Noem takes heat at DHS hearing by The Hill Staff 6 minutes ago Administration  /  6 minutes ago