European Far-Right Leaders Distance Themselves From Trump After US Midterms
European far-right leaders are distancing themselves from US President Donald Trump following the Democratic midterm victory, criticizing the economic fallout of the war in Iran.
The Democratic victory in the US midterm elections has prompted a noticeable shift among European far-right leaders who were previously considered close allies of US President Donald Trump. Across the continent, political figures in countries including France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom have begun to distance themselves from the American leader, criticizing his policies—most notably the ongoing war with Iran and its severe economic fallout.
While these leaders have largely avoided directly naming Trump as the primary cause of the Republican defeat, the political alignment that once seemed advantageous has increasingly become a liability. The divergence highlights a growing tension as European nationalists attempt to balance their ideological affinity with Trumpism against the economic disruptions and international chaos associated with his administration.
In France, Jordan Bardella, leader of the National Rally, pointed to the contrast between Trump's first and second terms, arguing that the current administration has abandoned its earlier isolationist posture. Bardella emphasized the heavy economic toll that American intervention in Iran is inflicting on global markets, though he refrained from explicitly attributing the decision to Trump himself.
German far-right leader Alice Weidel of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) was more direct, explicitly tying the Republican losses to the war in Iran and broken campaign promises. In an interview, Weidel criticized the administration for abandoning its non-interventionist pledges, warning that unfulfilled promises are now rebounding politically against the party.
Similar sentiments echoed in Italy, where Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini pointed to international conflicts and the soaring cost of living as decisive factors in the US vote. Salvini expressed hope that the election outcome would prompt a shift in Washington, accelerating a return to peace and stability.
In Spain and the United Kingdom, far-right figures similarly sought to downplay their previous associations. Vox leader Santiago Abascal dismissed the significance of the US vote for his domestic agenda, while British politician Rupert Lowe sharply condemned the Iran campaign as a catastrophic mistake, blaming the intervention for the Republican setback while omitting any direct mention of Trump by name.
