Nigel Farage has expressed concern that Donald Trump could intensify military action against Iran following what he described as a devastating defeat for Republicans in the US midterm elections. The Reform UK leader, who has maintained a long-standing friendship with the American president, suggested on Thursday that the war, which began in February 2026, had exacted a heavy political toll and could yet spiral further.
Speaking to broadcasters, Farage said he worried the president might respond to the electoral rout by pressing harder on the battlefield. "I suppose I worry that the President will continue aggressively attacking Iran," he said. "That worries me because that would have even more serious implications for the price of oil, for inflation, for the whole western world."
A Promise Broken?
The Reform leader, who had initially encouraged support for the conflict, acknowledged that he had backed the opening stages of the war but insisted he never endorsed an open-ended campaign. Asked whether the war had been a mistake, he replied without hesitation: "There's no question about it."
Farage argued that Trump had built his career on keeping his word to voters, yet in this instance had pledged to avoid foreign entanglements and now found himself in the eighth month of a conflict with no clear exit. He pointed to soaring fuel costs as the decisive factor that damaged Republican fortunes at the ballot box.
Trump himself conceded on Tuesday that the poor showing for his party's congressional candidates was partly attributable to the war and the accompanying surge in global oil prices, which have hit consumers in the United States and the United Kingdom alike. Nevertheless, he maintained that he did not regret launching the joint operation with Israel against Iran.
Warnings of Further Strikes
In the weeks leading up to the vote, Trump had warned that Washington and Jerusalem could return to full-scale hostilities if a negotiated settlement with Tehran proved elusive. His defeat in the midterms curtails his authority on the domestic front, but analysts expect his room for manoeuvre abroad to remain largely intact.
Farage's remarks were notably more pointed than those of other British political figures. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said earlier in the week that he hoped the results would create "an opportunity now to unite around the issue that is affecting us all, and that's the cost of living."
The Reform leader revealed he had not spoken with Trump since the elections, describing the outcome as a "complete wipeout" and "an absolute shellacking" for the Republicans. Reflecting on the president's trajectory, he added: "Trump has had an amazing career. He has beaten the pollsters, he has gone way beyond expectations. This was his last big election, and they all say that all political careers end in failure."
Reform Unveils Defence Spokesperson
Farage's comments came at an event unveiling Reform's first defence spokesperson, a position the party had been criticised for leaving vacant while appointing dedicated figures for immigration, the economy and education. Angus MacIntyre, who retired after a 40-year military career that included service as a Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force, will take on the role.
In his address, MacIntyre pledged to halt prosecutions of serving personnel and veterans within the first hundred days of a Reform government. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch had both pressed Reform over the absence of a defence voice. Farage said MacIntyre would join "a team we will build to represent us" on defence, security and cybersecurity.
