US Lawmaker Denounces Spanish Government

Republican Congressman Carlos Antonio Giménez has publicly backed the Catalan far-right party Aliança Catalana, accusing Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of political 'persecution'. On 14 September 2026, Giménez posted on social media: 'From the US Congress, we denounce the political persecution faced by the patriots of @CatalunyaAC by the regime of Pedro Sánchez at La Moncloa and his socialist-communist allies in Barcelona.' His statement came in response to a post by Aliança Catalana leader Sílvia Orriols, who claimed her party's candidates had suffered unprecedented public scrutiny and fiscal oversight. Giménez compared the situation to alleged attempts to target former US President Donald Trump during the last election campaign.

Controversial Figure with Ties to Trump

Giménez, a Cuban-American and former firefighter, served as mayor of Miami-Dade County from 2011 to 2020 before being elected to the US House of Representatives. He is a staunch ally of Donald Trump and has previously called for Sánchez's imprisonment over alleged financial misconduct. His political career has been marked by controversy, including a 67% pay rise shortly after becoming mayor, the awarding of public contracts to firms linked to family members, and a fatal pedestrian bridge collapse in 2018 involving a company lobbied by his sons. In 2025, his congressional office was the only one found guilty by the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights of workplace discrimination, resulting in a $25,000 payout.

Reactions and Political Context

Aliança Catalana figures including Jordi Aragonès and philosopher Joan Terré welcomed Giménez’s support. However, critics have questioned why a US Republican would back a separatist movement, drawing parallels to potential secessionist efforts in the US. While Giménez frames his comments as a defence of political freedom, the Spanish government has not formally responded to his allegations. His remarks reflect broader tensions between the current Spanish administration and the Trump-aligned wing of the US Republican Party, particularly over defence spending and foreign policy.

'This is equal to what they tried to do to President Trump,', Rep. Carlos A. Giménez, 14 September 2026

Primary sources: lamoncloa.gob.es. Reported by naciodigital.cat, efe.com, Medios Panorama, larazon.es, EFE, El Confidencial.