Kemi Badenoch calls Trump's criticisms of Starmer 'childish'

Kemi Badenoch is continuing to distance herself from the illegal war on Iran being waged by the US and Israel, as she calls the US President’s comments towards the prime minister “childish”.

Still firmly expressing she is a critic of Keir Starmer, the Conservative leader is now openly criticising Trump’s rhetoric.

In a video shared on her social media, Badenoch said:

I’m Keir Starmer’s biggest critic. There’s a lot of stuff that I believe he’s done wrong, but the words coming from the White House are completely wrong. I think it’s actually quite childish. There is a lot that can be said behind closed doors.

She went on to add:

The western alliance having an argument with itself, I think sends the wrong signal to our opponents in Iran or in Russia.

We need to be strengthening the relationship between the UK and the US, irrespective of who is president or who is prime minister. But I think those words coming from the White House were childish.

I’m Keir Starmer’s biggest critic, but the war of words coming from the White House is childish. pic.twitter.com/8Gax3Jhwn3

— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) March 17, 2026

Badenoch changes sides

Still, Badenoch’s criticisms appear motivated by ego and by the unease of being associated with a reckless, self-centred, bloodthirsty president.

She has long supported the orange buffoon and sought to win his favour. Now she chooses to diverge because Trump’s arrogant rants speak the ugly truths that were previously only whispered.

The conversations will still remain the same ‘behind closed doors’ as Badenoch would clearly prefer.

Everything he does is childish – https://t.co/xAET4WUove

— Greg Canty (@GregCantyFuzion) March 18, 2026

Right-wing leaders start to panic (finally)

In a move that will likely lead many to breathe a sigh of relief, many right-wing leaders and public officials have begun to distance themselves from the US and Israel’s devastating battering of Iran.

Day one of bombing saw an entire primary school obliterated, murdering 175 Iranians, most of whom were between the ages of seven and 10.

Likewise, Israeli forces have carried out mass bombardments in Lebanon, displacing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes and communities. Since the bombs began falling at the end of February, they have killed thousands of innocent civilians.

An Israeli airstrike struck an apartment building in central Beirut, on Wednesday. The Israeli army had warned residents to evacuate about an hour before completely flattening it as day broke. pic.twitter.com/JfUEfHDMbu

— The Associated Press (@AP) March 18, 2026

Britons will have heard countless times in their lives about the “special relationship” between the US and UK. However, that relationship has now been entirely exposed; the UK are merely lap dogs for US imperial interests, simply asking how high or how much of the colonialist tyrants.

Across the UK, more people now recognise that US interests often run counter to our own, and thankfully that awareness is growing by the day. Trump’s own rhetoric reflects a continuation of colonial-era thinking, with his characteristic arrogance exposing the true posture of Western leadership.

Britain: ‘a racist little rock clinging to delusions of grandeur’

The Canary’s Rachel Swindon wrote of this relationship and the UK’s irrelevance:

I know the patriots (busy protecting “our girls”) would disagree with me wholeheartedly when I say cloutless Britain — once the envy of empires — now squats in the global corner like a has-been aristocrat clutching a faded tiara, and the aforementioned “special relationship” with the US means we are reduced to begging for pathetic scraps from Washington’s neoliberal feast.

Britain twitches on the world stage like a severed limb still jerking from one of those phantom nerve signals. Ask around the world what they think of us, and if you don’t want to do that, I can tell you we are seen as utterly fucking irrelevant, a racist little rock clinging to delusions of grandeur while the planet rightfully leaves it to rot in a pile of its own Brexit-fuelled misery.

Swindon closed out by stating “Starmer’s cowardice endangers the world”.

If Britain won’t call out its closest ally’s lawlessness, who will? Starmer’s passivity isn’t pragmatism, it’s moral bankruptcy, paving the way for more Putins, Netanyahus, and Trumps.

Right-wing parties do appear to be waking up, even the German far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Italy’s far-right prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has also publicly refused to support the US war.

Even AfD are warning against backing Trump

Maybe Badenoch and Farage need to learn somethng https://t.co/Ub1JlODay9

— dave lawrence 🐟🐟🐠 (@dave43law) March 18, 2026

BREAKING : Italian 🇮🇹 Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has given shock to US & Israel

"Italy will withdraw the army from US led adventure in Middle East and will not participate in the war against Iran" 🔥

Leaders with spine and courage are standing for humanity. Mad Respect 🫡 pic.twitter.com/3fDwWF6kOO

— Amock_ (@Amockx2022) March 13, 2026

Nevertheless, these ‘challenges’ are likely more performative shows to save face publicly with domestic voters. After all, they’ve shown they’re more than comfortable with mass murder if they think the odds are they can get away with it.

The western leaders who are right now congregating in Davos and some of whom are being labeled heroes for standing up to trump, are sharing the spoils of the genocide of half a million Palestinians.
They killed people in the most heinous way and are now selling off their land. https://t.co/GcibcCurUA

— that poonam ka chaand (@sabsezyadaa) January 22, 2026

We have witnessed a clear example of leadership guided by principles, values and integrity. Spain’s PM, Pedro Sanchez, has received widespread support and respect for their continued resistance to colonialist oppression and violence.

"I’ve Never Been a Patriot, but Spain Standing Up to Trump Has Made Me One"
Paco Cerdà @nytimes https://t.co/J5n7owh4kf

— barrejon (@barrejon) March 13, 2026

Challenges must have weight or they’re just performative crap

It’s clear a line has been crossed by the US and Israel that Western leaders are feeling increasingly uncomfortable with. On the other hand, the world has been watching a genocide carried out against Palestinians without any tangible push back. Therefore, the nature of the relationship with the US and its Western leaders is exposed: bow to imperial interests or be punished.

As a result, this manipulative and coercive relationship has driven a global climate that works only for the richest and most powerful. The rest of the global population pay the price — facing displacement, destruction, hardship, or the strain of surging costs on their daily lives and finances in the UK. As always, ordinary people end up beneath the boot of the rich and powerful.

Western leaders might think publicly shaming Trump will help him find humility and change course, and they’re giving it a good go. Yet, they simply reveal that they miss the point once again. It is undeniable that the Epstein class have shown themselves to be incapable of humility and self-awareness. Their desires and fantasies are all they listen to.

Alas, we’ve given them rope and they’ve run miles with it. Now we must pull that rope firmly back and leave the US and Israel isolated like the hostile, rogue states they are.

Featured image via the Canary