Spain’s Sánchez wears ‘Make Science Great Again’ cap in apparent swipe at Trump

In the clip, shared on TikTok, Sánchez appears in selfie mode wearing a hat that reads ‘Make Science Great Again’ in English, before saying: ‘Vamos a darle caña’, an expression that can mean either ‘we’re going to give them (or it) hell’ or ‘we’re going to give it our all’. 

The video then cuts to footage of the prime minister riding a mountain bike along rugged trails — a hobby he has been regularly sharing on social media — accompanied by an instrumental version of the Hannah Montana theme song, marking the Disney series’ recent re-release.

The post has been widely covered in Spain, with commentators describing the cap as ‘pure sarcasm’ and a clear nudge at Trump. ALSO READ: Pedro Sánchez responds to Donald Trump: ‘No to war’.

The message has also resonated internationally, particularly in the United States, where it coincided with thousands of ‘No Kings’ protests held in defence of the US Constitution and against what demonstrators see as growing authoritarianism under Trump, as well as his decision to join Israel in military action against Iran. ALSO READ: Pedro Sánchez: Middle East conflict ‘much worse’ than 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Many observers interpret Sánchez’s video as the latest episode in an ongoing political clash between the Spanish leader and the US president, at a time when relations between the two countries have become increasingly strained.

Tensions escalated after Spain refused to allow the United States to use its military bases in Morón and Rota for operations linked to strikes on Iran. In response, Trump issued a stark warning: ‘Spain has been terrible. So we’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain.’ ALSO READ: Trump vows to ‘cut off all trade’ with Spain over Iran stance: ‘We don’t want anything to do with Spain’.

Spain has also since prohibited US military aircraft linked to the war in Iran from using its airspace. ALSO READ: Spain blocks its airspace to US military flights linked to the war in Iran.

Although Trump’s threat to cut off trade with Spain has not been carried out, the disagreement reflects a broader shift among European governments, which have moved from initial alignment with Washington’s position on Iran towards more direct opposition to the conflict, amid concerns over rising energy prices and inflation.

Sánchez has emerged as one of the most outspoken Western leaders against the US- and Israeli-led offensive, reinforcing his image as a political counterpoint to Trump — particularly on issues such as immigration, social policy, and foreign intervention.

The slogan on his cap appears to reference the broader ‘Make Science Great Again’ movement, an international — largely US-based — campaign highlighting concerns that scientists are being marginalised and research funding weakened.

Supporters argue this comes at a time when misinformation is spreading faster than facts, and when global challenges such as climate change, pandemics and biodiversity loss require stronger, evidence-based responses. The initiative calls for increased investment in science, greater support for researchers, and policies grounded in empirical evidence.

Spain’s government has already moved in that direction. Last year, Sánchez’s administration allocated €45 million to attract researchers affected by funding cuts in the United States, aiming to encourage them to continue their work in Spain — a programme officials say has had notable success.

In that context, Sánchez’s choice of slogan — and the timing of the video — is widely seen as both a political statement and a symbolic escalation in his ongoing standoff with Washington.