Trump’s disastrous midterms defeat partly driven by treatment of US allies, senior Republican says

Former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson says the Republicans’ poor midterm results partly reflect voters’ frustration with President Donald Trump’s treatment of US allies, tariffs and the Iran war. He says the result has prompted a reassessment within the party and argues that Britain can maintain close ties with both the United States and the European Union.

Ahead of a visit to London to deliver the 2026 Ernest Bevin Lecture, Hutchinson said US-UK ties are grounded in shared values and matter to global stability, particularly given threats from China. He predicted that a future Republican president would significantly reduce tariffs, which he said have harmed US farmers and distorted production, while retaining tariffs as a tool in some cases. His comments come before an anticipated EU-UK summit on closer cooperation.