European Far Right Distances Itself from Trump, Blames Iran War for Republican Defeat

European far-right leaders are distancing themselves from Donald Trump following the Democrats' victory in the US midterm elections, blaming the Iran war for the Republicans' defeat while largely avoiding direct criticism of the president. French National Rally leader Jordan Bardella said Trump's second term was less isolationist than his first, citing "very heavy consequences" from American intervention regarding Iran. German AfD co-leader Alice Weidel called the intervention a "broken promise" that "came back to haunt the Republicans," while Italian League leader Matteo Salvini pointed to wars and rising living costs as key factors. Analyst Mujtaba Rahman said Trump's unpopularity risks turning a former political asset into an "electoral liability" for Europe's far right. Some leaders, including Spain's Vox chief Santiago Abascal, downplayed the US result, while Restore Britain's Rupert Lowe called the Iran attack a "catastrophic mistake" without naming Trump.