European right distances from Trump over Iran war defeat

Hours after the Republican Party's dramatic defeat in the US midterm elections, senior politicians from right-wing parties across Europe began distancing themselves from former President Donald Trump. At the center of the criticism: the war with Iran, which they say led to the heavy loss.

For months, European right-wing leaders had boasted of their ties to Trump and the ideological similarities between them. Now, after Democrats seized control of both houses of Congress, the tone has shifted sharply.

Jordan Bardella, leader of France's National Rally party, said that "American intervention regarding Iran carries very heavy consequences for economies around the world." Bardella, who previously emphasized his closeness to Trump, noted that the president's second term has been less isolationist than his first, and that the Iran war is directly affecting the cost of living in Europe as well.

Alice Weidel, leader of Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, was more direct. In an interview with T-Online, she stated that the decision to launch a war with Iran is what led to the Republican defeat. "Trump promised his voters he would not pursue an interventionist foreign policy. That promise was broken, and now it is haunting the Republicans," Weidel said.

The new coalition leaders? Matteo Salvini, Berlusconi and Meloni [right to left] (Photo: Shutterstock)

Similar criticism was heard in Italy. Matteo Salvini, leader of the League party, said that "the results in the US were influenced first and foremost by the wars, by international tensions and by the rise in the cost of living, the consequences of which fall directly on families. The hope is that this vote will lead to an acceleration in ending the conflicts and a return to peace."

In a similar vein, Rupert Lowe, leader of Britain's Restore Britain party, wrote: "The Iran war was a catastrophic mistake. What did this war achieve? Nothing of value, absolutely nothing."

These statements mark a clear shift in direction. European right-wing leaders, who saw Trump as a model to emulate and an ideological partner, now understand that closeness to him could become a political liability, especially against the backdrop of rising energy prices and inflation attributed to the war.

Trump himself acknowledged that the Iran war affected the election results, but made clear he stands behind the decision. His son, Donald Trump Jr., posted full support for Vice President JD Vance, who pointed to the war as a central factor in the defeat.

The coming days will clarify whether this is merely a temporary distancing, or a deeper shift in relations between the European right and the American president.