European far right distances itself from Trump

Far-right politicians in Europe began to distance themselves from Donald Trump after the Democrats' victory in the US midterm elections, although they have generally avoided directly criticizing the president himself.

The change in stance is notable, as many of these leaders celebrated their ideological ties to Trump after his 2024 victory, with some of them having visited Washington since then, and receiving support from his billionaire ally Elon Musk.

Jordan Bardella, leader of France's National Rally, which most polls say could form the next government, exemplified this political shift.

Trump's second term was less isolationist than his first, from 2017 to 2021, Bardella said.

“The American intervention in relation to Iran has very serious consequences” for economies around the world, he added, without mentioning Trump as responsible for this intervention.

In Germany, Alice Weidel, co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, also attributed the defeat to the war against Iran. "Trump had promised his voters that he would not pursue an interventionist foreign policy. The broken promise has now come back to haunt the Republicans," she told news site T-Online.

Trump acknowledged that the war with Iran played a role in his party's defeats, but said he stands by his decision.

Pressures and cost of living

In Italy, Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right League party, which is part of the governing coalition, stated that the North American result was influenced above all by wars, international tensions and the increase in the cost of living, the consequences of which fall directly on families.

“The hope is that this vote can represent an acceleration towards the end of conflicts and a return to peace,” he said.

Roberto Vannacci, a former Italian general who leads the far-right National Future party, said the US result showed the political dangers of not fulfilling election promises. Vannacci had previously expressed admiration for Trump's nationalist policy, known as “America First,” but has since criticized the president over foreign policy.

“Trump did not live up to expectations, he was unable to end the war between Russia and Ukraine and he started a war against Iran,” Vannacci told the ANSA news agency, arguing that the resulting rise in energy prices and economic and stock market turmoil harmed the US middle class and contributed to the election result.

Ties with Trump could become electoral weight

European far-right leaders are distancing themselves from Trump for an obvious political advantage, according to analyst Mujtaba Rahman, managing director at political risk consultancy Eurasia Group. “His growing unpopularity, especially in relation to the cost of living, risks turning what was once a political asset into an electoral liability,” he told Reuters.

Rahman said far-right leaders appear to want the best of both worlds: reaping the “ideological momentum of Trumpism” without being tainted by the “chaos and economic disruption of his presidency.”

“The risk is that Trump and his MAGA allies, who see the European far right as ideological partners in their fight against the European establishment, could react by withdrawing their political support or even turning against them,” he added.

One of the few to downplay the magnitude of the Republicans' defeat was Dan Dungaciu, vice president of the Alliance for the Unification of Romanians, a far-right opposition party, who argued that reports of Trump's “political death” were “greatly exaggerated.”

"Donald Trump does not automatically become a powerless president. Instead, he moves from a presidency supported by Republican majorities to one in which the Executive and Congress will control each other much more intensely," he said.

In Spain, the leader of the far-right Vox party, Santiago Abascal, made little effort to soften his distance from Trump, telling reporters he was “in Spain and not in Michigan.”

“I don’t really care what happens elsewhere,” said Abascal, who in the past has touted his alliance with Trump and the MAGA movement.

Rupert Lowe, leader of the far-right Restore Britain party, also attributed the Republicans' defeat to the decision to attack Iran, calling it a "catastrophic mistake." He added: "What has this war achieved? Absolutely nothing of value." Lowe, however, did not include in his lengthy X post the name of the president who started the war.

Right-wing populist Reform UK leader Nigel Farage acknowledged on Wednesday that the election had been a “complete and utter defeat” for Republicans, despite his earlier prediction that expectations of a landslide Democrat victory were exaggerated.

Farage, who often trumpets his friendship with the US president and visited the White House last year, told GB News there was now “potential” for a falling out between Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

"It turns out that a lot of young people, those who follow all sorts of right-wing influencers and who voted for Trump in 2024, actually voted Democrat yesterday. It was a crushing defeat, largely, I think, because of the war, the prolonged war in Iran and the cost of fuel," Farage added.