[US midterm elections] European far-right distances itself from Trump… Blame the Iran War for raising prices

(London = Yonhap News) Correspondent Kim Ji-yeon = European far-right politicians are ‘keeping their distance’ from US President Donald Trump after the midterm elections won by the US Democratic Party.

Reuters reported on the 4th (local time) that this is a notable change compared to the times when many far-right politicians touted their connection to President Trump, who was re-elected in November 2024, and even received direct support from Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Several leadership figures analyzed and evaluated the Republican Party's defeat by linking it to the U.S. war against Iran and the rising cost of living.

This is because the European far-right forces are opposed to foreign intervention in wars as they advocate nationalism and nationalism, and as prices rise due to rising energy costs, anti-government protests against the hardships of life have spread throughout Europe.

Jordan Bardella, leader of France's far-right National Union (RN), said, "Trump's second term is quite different from his first term in terms of philosophy and foreign policy. In his first term, his political ambition was to remove the United States from major international conflicts."

He continued, "The United States' intervention in relation to Iran has had enormous consequences not only for the U.S. economy but also for the European economy," adding, "This is especially true for the purchasing power of our people due to the rise in oil prices."

In France, protests against the poor public sector and living conditions have been ongoing for a month. RN's Marine Le Pen is expected to win the presidential election next spring.

Alice Weidel, co-chair of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, told news outlet T Online, "Trump promised American voters that he would not pursue interventionist foreign policies," and added, "The broken promise has become an issue that has plagued the Republican Party."

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matero Salvini, head of the far-right party alliance participating in Italy's coalition government, analyzed that "the election results in the United States are, above all, due to war, international tensions, and the rise in living prices that are taking the brunt of the blow to households."

Deputy Prime Minister Salvini added, "I hope this election can serve as an opportunity to accelerate the end of the conflict and the restoration of peace."

Rupert Law, leader of Britain's far-right British Restoration Party, also said the decision to attack Iran was "a disastrous mistake" and was the cause of the defeat of the U.S. Republican Party.

European far-right leaders, who had emphasized their connection with President Trump even in the early days of President Trump's return to power, began to distance themselves as European voter sentiment toward the Trump administration worsened as the Atlantic tariff conflict arose and the United States began to withdraw from European security. This is due to concerns about a blow to the approval ratings of European far-right parties.

Mujitaba Rahman of Eurasia Group, a political risk advisory firm, analyzed that European far-right leaders are trying to avoid criticism by distancing themselves from the international chaos and negative economic impact caused by President Trump, while benefiting from the ideological and dispositional momentum of Trumpism, which aims to 'stand against the establishment.'

Santiago Abascal, head of Spain's far-right Vox party, who has previously boasted of ties to Trump and MAGA, told reporters after the results of the midterm elections came out, "I have Spain, not Michigan," and "I don't really care what happens in other countries."