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Jordan Bardella, leader of France's National Rally (RN), delivers a speech at a rally launching the party's presidential election campaign following its congress in Orléans, France, on Oct. 25, 2026. /Reuters-Yonhap

European conservative politicians are beginning to distance themselves from U.S. President Donald Trump following the Democratic Party's victory in the U.S. midterm elections.

Reuters reported Wednesday that European right-wing leaders were reassessing their ties with Trump in response to his weakening political standing.

Analysts say Europe's far-right politicians have begun to view their association with Trump as a political liability.

Mujtaba Rahman, managing director at political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, told Reuters that Trump's declining popularity, particularly over cost-of-living issues, risked turning what had once been a political asset into an electoral liability.

He said European conservative leaders were seeking to retain the ideological appeal of Trumpism while avoiding responsibility for the policy turmoil and economic disruption associated with the Trump administration. He added that Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement could respond by withdrawing political support for Europe's far-right parties or reconsidering its ties with them.

Jordan Bardella, leader of France's National Rally (RN), did not directly criticize Trump but pointed out that U.S. intervention in Iran was having serious consequences for the global economy. His remarks were seen as an attempt to distance himself from Trump's current foreign policy, which contrasts with his earlier pledge to avoid overseas military intervention, without entirely disavowing the ideological solidarity with Trump that he had previously emphasized.

Alice Weidel, co-leader of Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD), also cited the Iran war as a reason for the Republican Party's defeat. Speaking to German news outlet T-Online, she said Trump had promised voters that he would not intervene in foreign conflicts but had failed to keep that promise, negatively affecting the Republicans.

Matteo Salvini, leader of Italy's League party, which is part of the governing coalition, said wars, international tensions and rising living costs had influenced the U.S. election results. Roberto Vannacci, leader of the Futuro Nazionale (National Future) party, also criticized Trump for failing to end the war in Ukraine and launching the war against Iran, arguing that these actions had driven up energy prices and caused economic and stock market instability.

Santiago Abascal, leader of Spain's Vox party, made a clear effort to distance himself from Trump, saying, "I am in Spain, not Michigan, and I have little interest in what happens in the United States." Meanwhile, Rupert Lowe, leader of Britain's Restore Britain party, blamed the Iran war for the Republicans' defeat, describing it as a catastrophic mistake.

                                                                                                           Lee Jeong-eun