Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the UK Conservative Party, has stated that US President Donald Trump deserved to be defeated in the recent midterm elections, characterizing the political setback as “entirely self-inflicted.” In an interview with The Independent, Badenoch offered a sharp critique of the President’s conduct, arguing that his actions failed to align with core conservative principles.
The comments follow a significant electoral loss for the Republican Party, which lost control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday’s midterms. Democrats flipped at least seven Senate seats and more than two dozen House districts, marking a major blow to Trump’s political base. When asked directly if Trump deserved the defeat, Badenoch replied, “Yeah. He has not been acting in the way that I would consider conservative.”
Badenoch specifically condemned Trump’s trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs and threats directed at Canada and Greenland. She argued that these protectionist measures contradicted the conservative emphasis on free markets and better trade. “Where is the push for free markets and better trade… rather than protectionism, America first, the squabbling with allies? That’s not what conservatives do,” she said.
“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,” Badenoch said.
Beyond trade, Badenoch criticized Trump’s personal attacks on journalists and political figures, stating that such conduct fell short of the standards expected of a statesman. She expressed particular unhappiness with his remarks regarding British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and described his treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House as “awful.”
Regarding the conflict with Iran, Badenoch said she supported the initial decision to take military action due to concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, but she questioned the lack of a clear strategic plan. “We don’t want them getting nuclear weapons. But where’s the plan?” she asked. She further noted that Trump had squandered the broad coalition of voters, including increased support from Latino and Black voters, by prioritizing tariffs and disputes with allies.
Badenoch, who became Leader of the Opposition in November 2024, added that she would have been content if Trump had lost the 2024 presidential election to Kamala Harris. When asked which candidate she preferred, she stated, “I would say I like them both equally. Make of that what you will.”
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
