Moment 22 – Declaring Spain a BRICS Nation
During a 2025 press conference on defense spending, Trump dropped a geopolitical bombshell by labeling Spain as a “BRICS nation.” He quipped, “They’re a BRICS nation, Spain. Do you know what a BRICS nation is? You’ll figure it out.” For the uninitiated, BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—emerging economies with no EU members like Spain in the mix. This error turned a serious discussion into an international laughingstock, with Spanish officials and EU leaders issuing swift corrections.
The gaffe fueled memes and late-night TV segments, portraying Trump as out of touch with global alliances. While his point was about NATO contributions, the slip undermined his authority on foreign policy. Pundits speculated if it was a genuine mistake or a test of his audience’s loyalty, but it highlighted recurring factual inaccuracies in his speeches. Spain’s foreign minister tweeted a polite rebuke, and the incident briefly trended worldwide, reminding everyone that even presidents can have geography fails.
