The backlash has emerged despite earlier efforts by Trump to rebuild ties with Europe’s far right after returning to the White House last year.

While U.S. Vice President JD Vance recently campaigned for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, such overt support has become increasingly rare amid discontent over the Iran war.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni declined to allow U.S. forces to use an air base in Sicily for strikes on Iran, while Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s National Rally, described Trump’s war objectives as “erratic.”

In Germany, officials from the Alternative for Germany have called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops stationed in the country.The tensions come even as a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran remains in place, underscoring the broader geopolitical strain triggered by the conflict.

Analysts say the developments highlight the limits of Trump’s ambition to forge a cohesive international bloc of nationalist movements.

“Getting a blessing from Donald Trump is now a mixed blessing,” said Charles Kupchan, a professor of international relations at Georgetown University and senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

The rift follows earlier friction between Washington and European allies over Trump’s remarks targeting Denmark in connection with his demand that the country cede Greenland to the United States.

Trump also criticized NATO for what he described as insufficient support during recent tensions.Daniel Baer, a former U.S. ambassador and State Department official, said the latest disagreements reflect the difficulty of sustaining a unified nationalist coalition across borders.

“Building some sort of international coalition around national chauvinism is very difficult,” he said.Orbán, long regarded as a key Trump ally, has so far avoided direct criticism, maintaining a cautious stance on the Iran conflict. In a recent interview, he said it was too early to determine whether U.S. actions would lead to peace or further escalation.

Hungary’s leader has emphasized his relationship with Trump as a pillar of his foreign policy, often presenting it to voters as a source of security and international leverage. However, analysts warn that the association could carry political risks as perceptions of the U.S. administration shift.

According to Mario Bikarsku, a senior Europe analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, recent U.S. engagement in Hungary could have unintended consequences for Orbán’s domestic standing.

Experts note that the rise of far-right parties across Europe has largely been driven by domestic political dynamics rather than external influence, suggesting limited incentive for alignment with Washington’s policies.

Kupchan said nationalist movements in countries such as the United Kingdom, France and Germany have gained traction independently, shaped more by local economic and political conditions than by U.S. support.

The evolving divisions underscore the fragility of transnational political alliances built on ideological affinity, particularly as the Iran conflict continues to reshape global alignments.

Voters will decide on a proposal to separate the careers of judges and public prosecutors, splitting the self-governing High Council of the Judiciary (CSM) into two distinct bodies.

Though focused on institutional reform, the vote has evolved into a broader political contest between the government-backed “Yes” campaign and opposition forces advocating “No.” No turnout quorum is required for the referendum to be valid.

Analysts say the campaign has been marked by sharp rhetoric and limited public understanding of the legal changes at stake.

Fabrizio Masia, head of pollster EMG, said most voters were likely to base their choice on political loyalties rather than the substance of the reform.“Only a small minority of Italians knows much about the issue,” Masia said, adding that party leaders on both sides were focused on mobilising supporters to secure a narrow win.

Opinion polls released before a mandated two-week blackout period showed a closely contested race, with the “No” camp gaining ground amid indications that some right-wing voters may abstain. Meloni has ruled out resigning if the referendum fails, a move widely interpreted as an effort to dampen opposition turnout driven by the prospect of weakening her government.

Her ruling coalition, which includes Brothers of Italy, the League and Forza Italia, continues to poll ahead of the left, which has struggled to consolidate around the Democratic Party and the 5-Star Movement.

A rejection of the reform could inject momentum into efforts to unite centre-left forces and potentially expose internal strains within the governing bloc, Masia said. Conversely, approval of the measure would strengthen Meloni’s political standing as she approaches the latter part of her term.

Political scientist Emanuele Massetti said a government victory would reinforce its longer-term agenda, particularly with an eye on the 2027 election, as Italy navigates external geopolitical pressures and a sluggish domestic economy.