Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Conservative Party, has stated that US President Donald Trump deserved to lose in the country’s midterm elections, faulting his handling of the Iran war, his trade policies, and his treatment of allies, according to a report by The Independent on Saturday.
In an interview with The Independent’s editor-in-chief, Geordie Greig, Badenoch called Trump’s electoral setback “entirely self-inflicted” and condemned what she described as his “dirty” style of politics.
In a major blow to Trump’s Republican Party, the Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections, flipping at least seven Senate seats and more than two dozen House districts.
When asked whether Trump deserved the defeat, Badenoch answered, “Yeah. He has not been acting in the way that I would consider conservative.”
She took aim at his tariffs, his threats toward Canada and Greenland, and his disputes with US allies, arguing that his actions ran counter to conservative principles of free markets and better trade.
“Where is the push for free markets and better trade… rather than protectionism, America first, and the squabbling with allies? That’s not what conservatives do,” she said.
Badenoch further criticized Trump’s personal attacks on journalists and political figures, stating that his behavior fell short of the standards expected of a statesman.
“Trump is very charming in person, but you see the way that he talks about journalists, about individuals. It doesn’t meet the standards a statesman should meet—always wanting to get dirty in terms of insults and so on,” she said.
She stated that she was particularly unhappy with Trump’s remarks about British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and described his treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House as “awful.”
Regarding the Iran war, Badenoch said she understood Trump’s initial decision to launch the military action, which she backed due to concerns about Iran obtaining nuclear weapons, but she questioned the lack of a clear strategy.
“We don’t want them getting nuclear weapons. But where’s the plan?” she asked.
She also said she would have been happy if Trump had lost the 2024 presidential election to his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris.
When asked which of the two candidates she preferred, Badenoch said, “I would say I like them both equally. Make of that what you will.”
The Conservative leader also contended that Trump had wasted the broad coalition of voters that helped him win the presidency, including Latino voters and more Black voters than any previous Republican candidate.
“What’s the first thing he does? Tariffs, and then talking about Greenland and Canada. A lot of people were wondering, ‘What are you doing?’” she said.
Badenoch’s remarks emerged as part of broader criticism of Trump’s management of the economy and foreign policy after the Republicans’ midterm defeats.
Badenoch leads the UK Conservative Party and serves as Leader of the Opposition. In November 2024, she took over as Conservative leader after beating Robert Jenrick in the party’s leadership race.
She had earlier held the posts of UK Business and Trade Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities in the government of former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
