European far-right leaders pull back from Trump after midterms

Sam Okafor · 2026-11-05T13:20:32.866Z

It makes sense these far-right leaders blame the Iran war and living costs for the Republican losses, as those hit voters hard.

5 sourcesUpdated Nov 5, 20261 min read

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After Democrats’ victory in the U.S. midterm elections, several European far-right leaders have begun distancing themselves from President Donald Trump, whose policies they once openly admired. Jordan Bardella of France and Alice Weidel of Germany linked the Republican losses to the Iran war, arguing that it contradicted Trump’s campaign promise of a less interventionist foreign policy. Italy’s Matteo Salvini pointed to war, international tensions and the rising cost of living, while other critics said the results showed the political risks of failing to deliver on campaign promises. Some prominent allies, including Spain’s Santiago Abascal and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, avoided commenting directly despite their past public support for Trump, suggesting that association with him may now be politically costly.

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In this story:Donald John TrumpJordan BardellaMatteo Salvini

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Broke The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) · Nov 4, 9:30 AM ETLeft within the hour5 sources +21h on

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Rachel Meyers⚡1451m
Trump sticking by the war decision might feel consistent to him, but it clearly turns his European ties into a liability now.
Elena Vasquez⚡1151m
Abascal and Meloni avoiding any comment looks like a calculated move to protect their own positions back home.
Sam Okafor⚡651m
It makes sense these far-right leaders blame the Iran war and living costs for the Republican losses, as those hit voters hard.

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