Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK Conservative Party, said Donald Trump deserved to be thrashed in the US mid-term elections, describing the results as “entirely self-inflicted”. In an interview with The Talk Show, she criticised the US president's policies on tariffs and the Iran war, his threats against Canada and Greenland, and his treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. She added that she would have been content if Kamala Harris had won the 2024 presidential election.
Badenoch said Trump came in with an extraordinary coalition, pointing to tariffs, talk about Greenland and Canada, and the Iran war. “Where is the push for free markets and better trade?” she asked, saying his approach was not conservative. She added that voters want results, and that Trump “doesn't meet the standards a politician at that level, a statesman, should meet” in the way he talks about people.
The interview, conducted by Independent editor Geordie Greig, also covered UK politics. Badenoch criticised former Conservative prime ministers for “gimmicks, mistakes and short-termism”, saying immigration was too high. She criticised Liz Truss's mini-budget, saying you cannot announce £150 billion in energy bill support and £45 billion in tax cuts without spending cuts.
On Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, she said his explanation of a £5 million crypto donation “doesn't add up” and insisted she would never serve in a government led by him. “No, because he would not be good for this country. I simply wouldn't,” she said. She called a Reform proposal to nationalise Poundland “bonkers”, but joked that Farage had done her a favour with Robert Jenrick's defection, which she said was like defusing an “unexploded bomb”.
Badenoch said Prime Minister Andy Burnham is more “fun” than Sir Keir Starmer, but that this makes him more “dangerous” because he wants to please everybody. She branded him a “foot in mouth” politician, saying he says things first and thinks about them later.
The Conservative leader also said she has never experienced racism in Britain, calling the country "not a racist country" while acknowledging that racists exist.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The leader of Britain's main opposition party has directly criticised a sitting US president from the same political tradition, potentially straining the 'special relationship' if the Conservatives return to power.
- Her attacks on former Conservative leaders and her refusal to cooperate with Reform UK could reshape the right-wing political landscape in Britain.
- Badenoch's comments signal a possible shift in Tory policy away from protectionist and isolationist stances, back toward free-market and alliance-based conservatism.
Background
Kemi Badenoch is leader of the UK Conservative Party, the main opposition in Parliament. The US mid-term elections were held in November 2026 and saw President Donald Trump's Republican Party lose seats.
What to Watch
- Any response from President Trump or his supporters, which could affect UK-US relations.
- Internal Conservative Party reaction to Badenoch's criticism of former leaders and her refusal to work with Reform UK.
- Whether the Reform UK party capitalises on her dismissive remarks when campaigning.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedBadenoch said Trump deserved to be thrashed in the US mid-term elections.Nation.Cymru: “Kemi Badenoch has said Donald Trump deserved to be thrashed in the US mid-term elections”
- SupportedBadenoch described the election results as “entirely self-inflicted”.Nation.Cymru: “The Conservative leader said the election results were “entirely self-inflicted””
- SupportedBadenoch criticised Trump over tariffs, the Iran war, and threats against Canada and Greenland.Nation.Cymru: “as she criticised him over the Iran war, tariffs, and threatening Canada and Greenland.”
- Partly supportedBadenoch criticised Trump’s treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.Nation.Cymru: “Mrs Badenoch also branded Mr Trump’s treatment of Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House “awful”.”
- SupportedBadenoch said she would have been content if Kamala Harris had won in 2024.Nation.Cymru: “She even said she would have been content if Democratic nominee Kamala Harris had won in 2024”
- SupportedBadenoch asked, “Where is the push for free markets and better trade?”Nation.Cymru: ““Where is the push for free markets and better trade and more enforcement of trade rules, rather than protectionism, America first, the squabbling with allies?””
- SupportedBadenoch said Trump “doesn't meet the standards a politician at that level, a statesman, should meet” in the way he talks about people.Nation.Cymru: “the US president “doesn’t meet the standards a politician at that level, a statesman, should meet” in the way he talks about people”
- SupportedBadenoch said former Conservative prime ministers were responsible for “gimmicks, mistakes and short-termism” and that immigration was too high.Nation.Cymru: “she said they were guilty of “gimmicks, mistakes and short-termism”, adding: “Everyone makes mistakes. Obviously, the leaders were responsible for most of them. Immigration was too high.””
- SupportedBadenoch said Truss could not announce £150 billion in energy bill support and £45 billion in tax cuts without spending cuts.Nation.Cymru: ““You can’t just announce £150 billion bailing out people’s energy bills and £45 billion of tax cuts with no spending cuts at all.””
- SupportedBadenoch said Farage’s explanation of a £5 million crypto donation “doesn't add up”.Nation.Cymru: “On Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, she insisted that his explanation of the £5 million crypto donation “doesn’t add up”.”
- SupportedBadenoch said she would never serve in a government led by Farage.Nation.Cymru: “she would never serve in a government with Mr Farage as prime minister”
- SupportedBadenoch called Andy Burnham more “fun” than Keir Starmer and said that made him more “dangerous”.Nation.Cymru: “On Prime Minister Andy Burnham, she said he is more “fun” than Sir Keir Starmer, but that this “makes him more dangerous because he wants to please everybody”.”