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ELEVATEDNYT US NewsUnverifiedUnpublished
Fact-check: Numerous recent X posts from March 4, 2026, including from RT_com, DW Politics, and InsightGL, confirm Trump publicly criticized Spain (and the UK) over military spending and NATO commitments during an Oval Office meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who remained publicly silent. Videos and reports detail the event, aligning precisely with the article's claims. This is corroborated by NYT and other news sources, indicating high trustworthiness amid real-time NATO tensions.
As Trump Bashes Spain on Military Spending, German Chancellor Merz Looks On
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U.S. President Trump publicly rebuked Spain and Britain over military spending during an Oval Office meeting attended by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz, who has championed greater European unity, did not publicly object to Trump's criticism of NATO allies. The episode highlights ongoing transatlantic tensions over defense burden-sharing within the alliance.