Trump Mistakenly Identifies Spain as BRICS Member, Proposes 100% Tariff
In a recent statement from the Oval Office, U.S. President Donald Trump mistakenly referred to Spain as a member of the BRICS group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
During a discussion regarding Spain's contribution to NATO, which is below 5%, Trump asserted that Spain is part of the BRICS coalition. He emphasized that if BRICS nations decide to take certain actions, the U.S. would impose a minimum tariff of 100% on any business dealings they engage in with the United States.
In English, Spain is spelled 'Spain,' which may have led to confusion for Trump, given the final letter of 'BRICS.' When a journalist corrected him, clarifying that Spain is not a member of this group, Trump reiterated his intention to impose tariffs on BRICS nations.
This statement comes as part of Trump's broader agenda to require NATO members to increase their military spending to 5% of their GDP. For Spain, this would mean a significant increase from its current expenditure of 1.28%.
On the same day, Trump signed eight executive orders, marking the beginning of his administration's policy initiatives. These orders included withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement and revoking 78 decrees established by the former administration of President Joe Biden.
One order restricts federal officials from issuing new regulations until the new administration fully assumes control of the government. Additionally, Trump has enacted a hiring freeze for federal positions, with exceptions for military and essential roles, and ended remote work for federal employees. He also directed each government department to tackle rising living costs.
Other significant actions taken include an executive order aimed at terminating the Paris Climate Agreement, a declaration of an energy emergency, and a national emergency concerning the U.S.-Mexico border. Furthermore, Trump has categorized drug cartels as terrorist organizations and revoked automatic citizenship for individuals born in the U.S.
In a controversial move, Trump has also announced pardons for 1,600 individuals convicted in connection with the January 6 Capitol riots. He has pushed for policies that aim to restrict immigration and protect women's rights in the context of transgender issues while also announcing the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization and implementing a moratorium on TikTok.
