Trump was already unpopular in many European countries before the situation with Iran. The repercussions of that conflict, including the impact on fuel prices, have further increased the negative sentiments many European voters have toward the U.S. president.
Luke Tryl, from the More in Common think tank, revealed new research at the Reform conference indicating that a key group of British swing voters are skeptical of Trump and concerned about global instability.
“There is a segment of Reform voters who have issues with Trump,” Tryl mentioned at the conference. This group, termed “rooted patriots,” desires to address immigration but is troubled by the chaotic scenes involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he added.
“This group is absolutely critical to the Reform agenda. They are the swing voters who have influenced elections for the past two decades,” he said. “They are patriotic, socially conservative, and somewhat more economically left-leaning.”
Tryl suggested that Reform might need to “distance” itself from some of Trump’s policies to reassure these voters. “Iran has further damaged Trump’s image, and the angriest I’ve seen a group of Reform voters was regarding the Oval Office treatment of [Ukraine President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy,” Tryl told POLITICO, referring to the infamous episode in February 2025.
There are indications that Farage understands this.
While Reform shares themes with MAGA priorities, there were few overt gestures of alliance between the British and American populist right at the Birmingham gathering. On Friday, Farage did not mention Trump—whom he once called a “friend”—in his speech.
Instead, he sought support from his French ally. “Hold it for me,” Farage told Bardella on stage as they took turns signing their migration agreement’s large printout. “It’s quite heavy.”
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