Badenoch described the Republican Party’s electoral setback as “entirely self-inflicted” and criticised what she called Trump’s “dirty” style of politics during an interview with The Independent Editor-in-Chief, Geordie Greig, the newspaper reported on Saturday.
The Democrats secured control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections, gaining at least seven Senate seats and more than two dozen House districts in a major blow to Trump and his Republican Party.
Asked whether Trump deserved the defeat, Badenoch replied: “Yeah. He has not been acting in the way that I would consider conservative.”
She faulted the US president’s tariff policies, threats against Canada and Greenland, and strained relations with Washington’s allies, arguing that his approach contradicted conservative principles of free markets and international 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.
The Conservative leader also condemned Trump’s personal attacks on journalists and political figures, arguing that his conduct 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.
Badenoch expressed particular displeasure with Trump’s remarks about British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, while describing his treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House as “awful”.
On the Iran war, however, she said she understood and supported Trump’s initial decision to launch military action, citing concerns over Iran’s potential acquisition of nuclear weapons.
She nevertheless questioned the administration’s broader military objectives and the absence of a clearly defined strategy.
“We don’t want them getting nuclear weapons. But where’s the plan?” she asked.
Badenoch also revealed that she would have been comfortable with Trump losing the 2024 US presidential election to his Democratic challenger, Kamala Harris.
Asked which candidate she preferred, she responded: “I would say I like them both equally. Make of that what you will.”
