Italy and Spain have joined a growing list of countries that US president Donald Trump is threatening with pulling US troops from as part of a broader review of the US military presence in Europe.
US president Donald Trump gestures during a press conference at a Nato summit in The Hague, Netherlands. Photograph: Yves Herman/ReutersResponding to a question from a reporter, Trump said he would “probably” consider such a move, linking it to the two countries’ criticism of the US campaign in Iran.
“Look, why shouldn’t I? Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible.”
Both countries have been vocally critical of Trump’s war in the Middle East, with the US president repeatedly taking aim at their leadership for refusing to join the conflict.
Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, previously a close ally, fell out with the US president over Rome’s unwillingness to join the conflict – she “lacked courage,” Trump said – as well as her criticism of Trump’s “unacceptable” comments about Pope Leo.
She also denied the use of an airbase in Sicily to US military planes carrying weapons for the war in Iran after the US did not follow the required authorisation procedure.
How Giorgia Meloni’s cosy relations with Donald Trump turned sourRead moreMeanwhile, Spain’s Pedro Sánchez has been the most vocal European critic of the war from the very outset, repeatedly facing all sorts of angry reactions and threats from Trump in response, including of a trade embargo or a suspension of Nato membership (which is not even really a thing, really).
A lone battle: Why is Pedro Sánchez the only European leader to take on Trump?Read moreThey know join Germany’s Friedrich Merz who was the prime target of Trump’s frustration in recent days, getting harshly criticised for his domestic record on energy and migration, involvement in the Russian aggression on Ukraine, and Iran.
Trump tells Merz to ‘fix his broken country’ in new attack on German chancellorRead moreWho’s next in the Trump lottery? Join us this Friday to see for yourself.
Let’s see if we are going to get any reactions from Rome or Madrid, or perhaps some other countries who previously stood resolutely behind the allies in the face of Trump’s threat.
Elsewhere, I will bring you the latest on the EU-Mercosur trade agreement which becomes provisionally applicable today, and on the 1st of May marches and demonstrations across Europe.
It’s Friday, 1 May 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
