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Business Standard
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Trump's Iran strikes may face backlash from Maga's anti-war supporters
President Donald Trump's decision to strike three nuclear sites in Iran could deepen a divide among some of the Republican's supporters, including high-profile backers who had said any such move would run counter to the anti-interventionism he promised to deliver. Notably though, immediately following Trump's Saturday announcement of the strike, some of those who had publicly spoken out against US involvement voiced their support. The lead-up to the move against Iranian nuclear sites had exposed fissures within Trump's Make American Great Again base as some of that movement's most vocal leaders, with large followings of their own, expressed deep concern about the prospect of US involvement in the Israel-Iran war. With the president barred from seeking a third term, what remains unknown is how long-lasting the schism could be for Trump and his current priorities, as well as the overall future of his America First movement. Among the surrogates who spoke out against American involvement were former senior adviser Steve Bannon, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., commentator Tucker Carlson and Charlie Kirk, the founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point. Part of their consternation was rooted in Trump's own vocalized antipathy for what he and others have termed the forever wars fomented in previous administrations. As the possibility of military action neared, some of those voices tamped down their rhetoric. According to Trump, Carlson even called to apologize. Here's a look at what some of Trump's biggest advocates had said about US military involvement in Iran: Steve Bannon On Wednesday, Bannon, one of top advisers in Trump's 2016 campaign, told an audience in Washington that bitter feelings over Iraq were a driving force for Trump's first presidential candidacy and the MAGA movement. "One of the core tenets is no forever wars, Bannon said. But the longtime Trump ally, who served a four-month sentence for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the US Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, went on to suggest that Trump will maintain loyalty from his base no matter what. On Wednesday, Bannon acknowledged that while he and others will argue against military intervention until the end, the MAGA movement will back Trump. Ultimately, Bannon said that Trump would have to make the case to the American people if he wanted to get involved in Iran. We don't like it. Maybe we hate it, Bannon said, predicting what the MAGA response would be. But, you know, we'll get on board. Tucker Carlson The commentator's rhetoric toward Trump was increasingly critical. Carlson, who headlined large rallies with the Republican during the 2024 campaign, earlier this month suggested that the president's posture was breaking his pledge to keep the US out of new foreign entanglements. Trump clapped back at Carlson on social media, calling him kooky. During an event at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said that Carlson had called and apologized for calling him out. Trump said Carlson is a nice guy. Carlson's conversation with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that day laid bare the divides among many Republicans. The two sparred for two hours over a variety of issues, primarily about possible US involvement in Iran. Carlson accused Cruz of placing too much emphasis on protecting Israel in his foreign policy worldview. You don't know anything about Iran, Carlson said to Cruz, after the senator said he didn't know Iran's population or its ethnic composition. You're a senator who's calling for the overthrow of a government, and you don't know anything about the country. Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene The Georgia Republican, who wore the signature red MAGA cap for Democratic President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in 2024, publicly sided with Carlson, criticizing Trump for deriding one of my favorite people. Saying the former Fox News commentator unapologetically believes the same things I do, Greene wrote on X this past week that those beliefs include that foreign wars/intervention/regime change put America last, kill innocent people, are making us broke, and will ultimately lead to our destruction. That's not kooky, Greene added, using the same word Trump used to describe Carlson. That's what millions of Americans voted for. It's what we believe is America First. About an hour before Trump's announcement, Greene posted on X that, Every time America is on the verge of greatness, we get involved in another foreign war. This is not our fight, she added. Peace is the answer. In another post following Trump's announcement, Greene urged, Let us all join together and pray for peace." Alex Jones The far-right conspiracy theorist and Infowars host posted on social media earlier in the week a side-by-side of Trump's official presidential headshot and an artificial intelligence-generated composite of Trump and former Republican President George W. Bush. Trump and many of his allies have long disparaged Bush for involving the United States in the forever wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Writing What you voted for above Trump's image and What you got above the composite, Jones added: I hope this is not the case Charlie Kirk Kirk is among those who seemed to have made a quick about-face. About an hour after Trump's announcement, Kirk posted a series of messages on social media supportive of Trump, saying Iran had given the president no choice. Kirk praised Trump for acting with prudence and decisiveness" and for the betterment of humanity. Kirk also reposted a 2011 tweet in which Trump had written that Iran's quest for nuclear weapons is a major threat to our nation's national security interests. We can't allow Iran to go nuclear.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Trump's move against Iran may draw more criticism from MAGA's anti-interventionists
President Donald Trump 's decision to strike three nuclear sites in Iran could deepen a divide among some of the Republican's supporters, including high-profile backers who had said any such move would run counter to the anti-interventionism he promised to deliver. Notably though, immediately following Trump 's Saturday announcement of the strike, some of those who had publicly spoken out against U.S. involvement voiced their support. The lead-up to the move against Iranian nuclear sites had exposed fissures within Trump's "Make American Great Again" base as some of that movement's most vocal leaders, with large followings of their own, expressed deep concern about the prospect of US involvement in the Israel-Iran war. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search ads Learn More Undo With the president barred from seeking a third term, what remains unknown is how long-lasting the schism could be for Trump and his current priorities, as well as the overall future of his "America First" movement. Among the surrogates who spoke out against American involvement were former senior adviser Steve Bannon , Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., commentator Tucker Carlson and Charlie Kirk, the founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point. Part of their consternation was rooted in Trump's own vocalized antipathy for what he and others have termed the "forever wars" fomented in previous administrations. Live Events As the possibility of military action neared, some of those voices tamped down their rhetoric. According to Trump, Carlson even called to "apologize." Here's a look at what some of Trump's biggest advocates had said about U.S. military involvement in Iran: Steve Bannon On Wednesday, Bannon, one of top advisers in Trump's 2016 campaign, told an audience in Washington that bitter feelings over Iraq were a driving force for Trump's first presidential candidacy and the MAGA movement . "One of the core tenets is no forever wars," Bannon said. But the longtime Trump ally, who served a four-month sentence for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, went on to suggest that Trump will maintain loyalty from his base no matter what. On Wednesday, Bannon acknowledged that while he and others will argue against military intervention until the end, "the MAGA movement will back Trump." Ultimately, Bannon said that Trump would have to make the case to the American people if he wanted to get involved in Iran. "We don't like it. Maybe we hate it," Bannon said, predicting what the MAGA response would be. "But, you know, we'll get on board." Tucker Carlson The commentator's rhetoric toward Trump was increasingly critical. Carlson, who headlined large rallies with the Republican during the 2024 campaign, earlier this month suggested that the president's posture was breaking his pledge to keep the U.S. out of new foreign entanglements. Trump clapped back at Carlson on social media, calling him "kooky." During an event at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said that Carlson had "called and apologized" for calling him out. Trump said Carlson "is a nice guy." Carlson's conversation with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that day laid bare the divides among many Republicans. The two sparred for two hours over a variety of issues, primarily about possible U.S. involvement in Iran. Carlson accused Cruz of placing too much emphasis on protecting Israel in his foreign policy worldview. "You don't know anything about Iran," Carlson said to Cruz, after the senator said he didn't know Iran's population or its ethnic composition. "You're a senator who's calling for the overthrow of a government, and you don't know anything about the country." Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene The Georgia Republican, who wore the signature red MAGA cap for Democratic President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in 2024, publicly sided with Carlson, criticizing Trump for deriding "one of my favorite people." Saying the former Fox News commentator "unapologetically believes the same things I do," Greene wrote on X this past week that those beliefs include that "foreign wars/intervention/regime change put America last, kill innocent people, are making us broke, and will ultimately lead to our destruction." "That's not kooky," Greene added, using the same word Trump used to describe Carlson. "That's what millions of Americans voted for. It's what we believe is America First." About an hour before Trump's announcement, Greene posted on X that, "Every time America is on the verge of greatness, we get involved in another foreign war." "This is not our fight," she added. "Peace is the answer." In another post following Trump's announcement, Greene urged, "Let us all join together and pray for peace." Alex Jones The far-right conspiracy theorist and Infowars host posted on social media earlier in the week a side-by-side of Trump's official presidential headshot and an artificial intelligence-generated composite of Trump and former Republican President George W. Bush. Trump and many of his allies have long disparaged Bush for involving the United States in the "forever wars" in Iraq and Afghanistan. Writing "What you voted for" above Trump's image and "What you got" above the composite, Jones added: "I hope this is not the case..." Charlie Kirk Kirk is among those who seemed to have made a quick about-face. About an hour after Trump's announcement, Kirk posted a series of messages on social media supportive of Trump, saying Iran had given the president "no choice." Kirk praised Trump for acting "with prudence and decisiveness" and "for the betterment of humanity." Kirk also reposted a 2011 tweet in which Trump had written that "Iran's quest for nuclear weapons is a major threat to our nation's national security interests. We can't allow Iran to go nuclear." "When Trump speaks, you should listen," Kirk added. It was a different tone from the start of the week, when Kirk said in a Fox News interview that "this is the moment that President Trump was elected for." But he had warned of a potential MAGA divide over Iran. Days later, Kirk said that "Trump voters, especially young people, supported President Trump because he was the first president in my lifetime to not start a new war." He also wrote that "there is historically little support for America to be actively engaged in yet another offensive war in the Middle East. We must work for and pray for peace." In Kirk's view, "The last thing America needs right now is a new war. Our number one desire must be peace, as quickly as possible."
The Advertiser
22-06-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
MAGA anti-interventionists warned US not to strike Iran
President Donald Trump's decision to strike three nuclear sites in Iran will almost assuredly draw more criticism from some of his Republican supporters, including high-profile backers who had said any such move would run counter to the anti-interventionism he promised to deliver. The lead-up to the strike exposed fissures within Trump's "Make American Great Again" base as some of that movement's most vocal leaders, with large followings of their own, expressed deep concern about the prospect of US involvement in the Israel-Iran war. Here's a look at what some of Trump's biggest advocates had said about US military involvement in Iran: * STEVE BANNON - One of the top advisers in Trump's 2016 campaign, Bannon told an audience in Washington on Wednesday that bitter feelings over Iraq were a driving force for Trump's first presidential candidacy and the MAGA movement. - "One of the core tenets is no forever wars," Bannon said. - The longtime Trump ally, who served a four-month sentence for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, acknowledged that while he and others argued against military intervention, "the MAGA movement will back Trump". - Bannon said Trump would have to make the case to the American people if he wanted to get involved in Iran. - "We don't like it. Maybe we hate it," Bannon said, predicting what the MAGA response would be. "But, you know, we'll get on board." * TUCKER CARLSON - The US commentator's rhetoric toward Trump was increasingly critical. - Carlson, who headlined large rallies with the Republican during the 2024 campaign, suggested in June that the president's posture was breaking his pledge to keep the US out of new foreign entanglements. - Trump clapped back at Carlson on social media, calling him "kooky". - During an event at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said Carlson had "called and apologised" for calling him out, adding Carlson "is a nice guy". - Carlson's sparred with Texan senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas on Wednesday for two hours over a variety of issues, primarily possible US involvement in Iran, with Carlson accusing Cruz of placing too much emphasis on protecting Israel in his foreign policy worldview. - "You don't know anything about Iran," Carlson said to Cruz, after the senator said he didn't know Iran's population or its ethnic composition. - "You're a senator who's calling for the overthrow of a government, and you don't know anything about the country." * MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE - The Georgia Republican, who wore the signature red MAGA cap for Democratic President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in 2024, has publicly sided with Carlson, criticising Trump for deriding "one of my favourite people". - Saying the former Fox News commentator "unapologetically believes the same things I do", Greene wrote on X this past week that those beliefs include that "foreign wars/intervention/regime change put America last, kill innocent people, are making us broke, and will ultimately lead to our destruction". - "That's not kooky," Greene added, using the same word Trump used to describe Carlson. "That's what millions of Americans voted for. It's what we believe is America First." * ALEX JONES - The far-right conspiracy theorist and Infowars host posted on social media earlier in the week a side-by-side of Trump's official presidential head shot and an artificial intelligence-generated composite of Trump and former Republican President George W Bush. - Trump and many of his allies have long disparaged Bush for involving the US in the "forever wars" in Iraq and Afghanistan. - Writing "What you voted for" above Trump's image and "What you got" above the composite, Jones added: "I hope this is not the case …" * CHARLIE KIRK - Conservative political activist Kirk said in a Fox News interview at the start of the week that "this is the moment that President Trump was elected for" but he had warned of a potential MAGA divide over Iran. - Days later, Kirk said, "Trump voters, especially young people, supported President Trump because he was the first president in my lifetime to not start a new war". - He also wrote: "There is historically little support for America to be actively engaged in yet another offensive war in the Middle East - we must work for and pray for peace." - In Kirk's view: "The last thing America needs right now is a new war. Our number one desire must be peace, as quickly as possible." President Donald Trump's decision to strike three nuclear sites in Iran will almost assuredly draw more criticism from some of his Republican supporters, including high-profile backers who had said any such move would run counter to the anti-interventionism he promised to deliver. The lead-up to the strike exposed fissures within Trump's "Make American Great Again" base as some of that movement's most vocal leaders, with large followings of their own, expressed deep concern about the prospect of US involvement in the Israel-Iran war. Here's a look at what some of Trump's biggest advocates had said about US military involvement in Iran: * STEVE BANNON - One of the top advisers in Trump's 2016 campaign, Bannon told an audience in Washington on Wednesday that bitter feelings over Iraq were a driving force for Trump's first presidential candidacy and the MAGA movement. - "One of the core tenets is no forever wars," Bannon said. - The longtime Trump ally, who served a four-month sentence for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, acknowledged that while he and others argued against military intervention, "the MAGA movement will back Trump". - Bannon said Trump would have to make the case to the American people if he wanted to get involved in Iran. - "We don't like it. Maybe we hate it," Bannon said, predicting what the MAGA response would be. "But, you know, we'll get on board." * TUCKER CARLSON - The US commentator's rhetoric toward Trump was increasingly critical. - Carlson, who headlined large rallies with the Republican during the 2024 campaign, suggested in June that the president's posture was breaking his pledge to keep the US out of new foreign entanglements. - Trump clapped back at Carlson on social media, calling him "kooky". - During an event at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said Carlson had "called and apologised" for calling him out, adding Carlson "is a nice guy". - Carlson's sparred with Texan senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas on Wednesday for two hours over a variety of issues, primarily possible US involvement in Iran, with Carlson accusing Cruz of placing too much emphasis on protecting Israel in his foreign policy worldview. - "You don't know anything about Iran," Carlson said to Cruz, after the senator said he didn't know Iran's population or its ethnic composition. - "You're a senator who's calling for the overthrow of a government, and you don't know anything about the country." * MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE - The Georgia Republican, who wore the signature red MAGA cap for Democratic President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in 2024, has publicly sided with Carlson, criticising Trump for deriding "one of my favourite people". - Saying the former Fox News commentator "unapologetically believes the same things I do", Greene wrote on X this past week that those beliefs include that "foreign wars/intervention/regime change put America last, kill innocent people, are making us broke, and will ultimately lead to our destruction". - "That's not kooky," Greene added, using the same word Trump used to describe Carlson. "That's what millions of Americans voted for. It's what we believe is America First." * ALEX JONES - The far-right conspiracy theorist and Infowars host posted on social media earlier in the week a side-by-side of Trump's official presidential head shot and an artificial intelligence-generated composite of Trump and former Republican President George W Bush. - Trump and many of his allies have long disparaged Bush for involving the US in the "forever wars" in Iraq and Afghanistan. - Writing "What you voted for" above Trump's image and "What you got" above the composite, Jones added: "I hope this is not the case …" * CHARLIE KIRK - Conservative political activist Kirk said in a Fox News interview at the start of the week that "this is the moment that President Trump was elected for" but he had warned of a potential MAGA divide over Iran. - Days later, Kirk said, "Trump voters, especially young people, supported President Trump because he was the first president in my lifetime to not start a new war". - He also wrote: "There is historically little support for America to be actively engaged in yet another offensive war in the Middle East - we must work for and pray for peace." - In Kirk's view: "The last thing America needs right now is a new war. Our number one desire must be peace, as quickly as possible." President Donald Trump's decision to strike three nuclear sites in Iran will almost assuredly draw more criticism from some of his Republican supporters, including high-profile backers who had said any such move would run counter to the anti-interventionism he promised to deliver. The lead-up to the strike exposed fissures within Trump's "Make American Great Again" base as some of that movement's most vocal leaders, with large followings of their own, expressed deep concern about the prospect of US involvement in the Israel-Iran war. Here's a look at what some of Trump's biggest advocates had said about US military involvement in Iran: * STEVE BANNON - One of the top advisers in Trump's 2016 campaign, Bannon told an audience in Washington on Wednesday that bitter feelings over Iraq were a driving force for Trump's first presidential candidacy and the MAGA movement. - "One of the core tenets is no forever wars," Bannon said. - The longtime Trump ally, who served a four-month sentence for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, acknowledged that while he and others argued against military intervention, "the MAGA movement will back Trump". - Bannon said Trump would have to make the case to the American people if he wanted to get involved in Iran. - "We don't like it. Maybe we hate it," Bannon said, predicting what the MAGA response would be. "But, you know, we'll get on board." * TUCKER CARLSON - The US commentator's rhetoric toward Trump was increasingly critical. - Carlson, who headlined large rallies with the Republican during the 2024 campaign, suggested in June that the president's posture was breaking his pledge to keep the US out of new foreign entanglements. - Trump clapped back at Carlson on social media, calling him "kooky". - During an event at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said Carlson had "called and apologised" for calling him out, adding Carlson "is a nice guy". - Carlson's sparred with Texan senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas on Wednesday for two hours over a variety of issues, primarily possible US involvement in Iran, with Carlson accusing Cruz of placing too much emphasis on protecting Israel in his foreign policy worldview. - "You don't know anything about Iran," Carlson said to Cruz, after the senator said he didn't know Iran's population or its ethnic composition. - "You're a senator who's calling for the overthrow of a government, and you don't know anything about the country." * MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE - The Georgia Republican, who wore the signature red MAGA cap for Democratic President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in 2024, has publicly sided with Carlson, criticising Trump for deriding "one of my favourite people". - Saying the former Fox News commentator "unapologetically believes the same things I do", Greene wrote on X this past week that those beliefs include that "foreign wars/intervention/regime change put America last, kill innocent people, are making us broke, and will ultimately lead to our destruction". - "That's not kooky," Greene added, using the same word Trump used to describe Carlson. "That's what millions of Americans voted for. It's what we believe is America First." * ALEX JONES - The far-right conspiracy theorist and Infowars host posted on social media earlier in the week a side-by-side of Trump's official presidential head shot and an artificial intelligence-generated composite of Trump and former Republican President George W Bush. - Trump and many of his allies have long disparaged Bush for involving the US in the "forever wars" in Iraq and Afghanistan. - Writing "What you voted for" above Trump's image and "What you got" above the composite, Jones added: "I hope this is not the case …" * CHARLIE KIRK - Conservative political activist Kirk said in a Fox News interview at the start of the week that "this is the moment that President Trump was elected for" but he had warned of a potential MAGA divide over Iran. - Days later, Kirk said, "Trump voters, especially young people, supported President Trump because he was the first president in my lifetime to not start a new war". - He also wrote: "There is historically little support for America to be actively engaged in yet another offensive war in the Middle East - we must work for and pray for peace." - In Kirk's view: "The last thing America needs right now is a new war. Our number one desire must be peace, as quickly as possible." President Donald Trump's decision to strike three nuclear sites in Iran will almost assuredly draw more criticism from some of his Republican supporters, including high-profile backers who had said any such move would run counter to the anti-interventionism he promised to deliver. The lead-up to the strike exposed fissures within Trump's "Make American Great Again" base as some of that movement's most vocal leaders, with large followings of their own, expressed deep concern about the prospect of US involvement in the Israel-Iran war. Here's a look at what some of Trump's biggest advocates had said about US military involvement in Iran: * STEVE BANNON - One of the top advisers in Trump's 2016 campaign, Bannon told an audience in Washington on Wednesday that bitter feelings over Iraq were a driving force for Trump's first presidential candidacy and the MAGA movement. - "One of the core tenets is no forever wars," Bannon said. - The longtime Trump ally, who served a four-month sentence for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, acknowledged that while he and others argued against military intervention, "the MAGA movement will back Trump". - Bannon said Trump would have to make the case to the American people if he wanted to get involved in Iran. - "We don't like it. Maybe we hate it," Bannon said, predicting what the MAGA response would be. "But, you know, we'll get on board." * TUCKER CARLSON - The US commentator's rhetoric toward Trump was increasingly critical. - Carlson, who headlined large rallies with the Republican during the 2024 campaign, suggested in June that the president's posture was breaking his pledge to keep the US out of new foreign entanglements. - Trump clapped back at Carlson on social media, calling him "kooky". - During an event at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said Carlson had "called and apologised" for calling him out, adding Carlson "is a nice guy". - Carlson's sparred with Texan senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas on Wednesday for two hours over a variety of issues, primarily possible US involvement in Iran, with Carlson accusing Cruz of placing too much emphasis on protecting Israel in his foreign policy worldview. - "You don't know anything about Iran," Carlson said to Cruz, after the senator said he didn't know Iran's population or its ethnic composition. - "You're a senator who's calling for the overthrow of a government, and you don't know anything about the country." * MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE - The Georgia Republican, who wore the signature red MAGA cap for Democratic President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in 2024, has publicly sided with Carlson, criticising Trump for deriding "one of my favourite people". - Saying the former Fox News commentator "unapologetically believes the same things I do", Greene wrote on X this past week that those beliefs include that "foreign wars/intervention/regime change put America last, kill innocent people, are making us broke, and will ultimately lead to our destruction". - "That's not kooky," Greene added, using the same word Trump used to describe Carlson. "That's what millions of Americans voted for. It's what we believe is America First." * ALEX JONES - The far-right conspiracy theorist and Infowars host posted on social media earlier in the week a side-by-side of Trump's official presidential head shot and an artificial intelligence-generated composite of Trump and former Republican President George W Bush. - Trump and many of his allies have long disparaged Bush for involving the US in the "forever wars" in Iraq and Afghanistan. - Writing "What you voted for" above Trump's image and "What you got" above the composite, Jones added: "I hope this is not the case …" * CHARLIE KIRK - Conservative political activist Kirk said in a Fox News interview at the start of the week that "this is the moment that President Trump was elected for" but he had warned of a potential MAGA divide over Iran. - Days later, Kirk said, "Trump voters, especially young people, supported President Trump because he was the first president in my lifetime to not start a new war". - He also wrote: "There is historically little support for America to be actively engaged in yet another offensive war in the Middle East - we must work for and pray for peace." - In Kirk's view: "The last thing America needs right now is a new war. Our number one desire must be peace, as quickly as possible."
San Francisco Chronicle
22-06-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Trump's move against Iran may draw more criticism from MAGA's anti-interventionists
President Donald Trump's decision to strike three nuclear sites in Iran could deepen a divide among some of the Republican's supporters, including high-profile backers who had said any such move would run counter to the anti-interventionism he promised to deliver. Notably though, immediately following Trump's Saturday announcement of the strike, some of those who had publicly spoken out against U.S. involvement voiced their support. The lead-up to the move against Iranian nuclear sites had exposed fissures within Trump's 'Make American Great Again' base as some of that movement's most vocal leaders, with large followings of their own, expressed deep concern about the prospect of U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran war. With the president barred from seeking a third term, what remains unknown is how long-lasting the schism could be for Trump and his current priorities, as well as the overall future of his 'America First' movement. Among the surrogates who spoke out against American involvement were former senior adviser Steve Bannon, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., commentator Tucker Carlson and Charlie Kirk, the founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point. Part of their consternation was rooted in Trump's own vocalized antipathy for what he and others have termed the 'forever wars' fomented in previous administrations. As the possibility of military action neared, some of those voices tamped down their rhetoric. According to Trump, Carlson even called to 'apologize.' Steve Bannon On Wednesday, Bannon, one of top advisers in Trump's 2016 campaign, told an audience in Washington that bitter feelings over Iraq were a driving force for Trump's first presidential candidacy and the MAGA movement. "One of the core tenets is no forever wars,' Bannon said. But the longtime Trump ally, who served a four-month sentence for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, went on to suggest that Trump will maintain loyalty from his base no matter what. On Wednesday, Bannon acknowledged that while he and others will argue against military intervention until the end, 'the MAGA movement will back Trump.' Ultimately, Bannon said that Trump would have to make the case to the American people if he wanted to get involved in Iran. 'We don't like it. Maybe we hate it,' Bannon said, predicting what the MAGA response would be. 'But, you know, we'll get on board.' Tucker Carlson The commentator's rhetoric toward Trump was increasingly critical. Carlson, who headlined large rallies with the Republican during the 2024 campaign, earlier this month suggested that the president's posture was breaking his pledge to keep the U.S. out of new foreign entanglements. Trump clapped back at Carlson on social media, calling him 'kooky.' During an event at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said that Carlson had 'called and apologized' for calling him out. Trump said Carlson 'is a nice guy.' Carlson's conversation with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that day laid bare the divides among many Republicans. The two sparred for two hours over a variety of issues, primarily about possible U.S. involvement in Iran. Carlson accused Cruz of placing too much emphasis on protecting Israel in his foreign policy worldview. 'You don't know anything about Iran,' Carlson said to Cruz, after the senator said he didn't know Iran's population or its ethnic composition. 'You're a senator who's calling for the overthrow of a government, and you don't know anything about the country.' Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene The Georgia Republican, who wore the signature red MAGA cap for Democratic President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in 2024, publicly sided with Carlson, criticizing Trump for deriding 'one of my favorite people.' Saying the former Fox News commentator 'unapologetically believes the same things I do,' Greene wrote on X this past week that those beliefs include that 'foreign wars/intervention/regime change put America last, kill innocent people, are making us broke, and will ultimately lead to our destruction.' 'That's not kooky,' Greene added, using the same word Trump used to describe Carlson. 'That's what millions of Americans voted for. It's what we believe is America First.' About an hour before Trump's announcement, Greene posted on X that, 'Every time America is on the verge of greatness, we get involved in another foreign war.' 'This is not our fight,' she added. 'Peace is the answer.' In another post following Trump's announcement, Greene urged, 'Let us all join together and pray for peace." Alex Jones The far-right conspiracy theorist and Infowars host posted on social media earlier in the week a side-by-side of Trump's official presidential headshot and an artificial intelligence-generated composite of Trump and former Republican President George W. Bush. Trump and many of his allies have long disparaged Bush for involving the United States in the 'forever wars' in Iraq and Afghanistan. Writing 'What you voted for' above Trump's image and 'What you got' above the composite, Jones added: 'I hope this is not the case…' Charlie Kirk Kirk is among those who seemed to have made a quick about-face. About an hour after Trump's announcement, Kirk posted a series of messages on social media supportive of Trump, saying Iran had given the president 'no choice.' Kirk praised Trump for acting 'with prudence and decisiveness" and 'for the betterment of humanity.' Kirk also reposted a 2011 tweet in which Trump had written that 'Iran's quest for nuclear weapons is a major threat to our nation's national security interests. We can't allow Iran to go nuclear.' 'When Trump speaks, you should listen,' Kirk added. It was a different tone from the start of the week, when Kirk said in a Fox News interview that 'this is the moment that President Trump was elected for.' But he had warned of a potential MAGA divide over Iran. Days later, Kirk said that 'Trump voters, especially young people, supported President Trump because he was the first president in my lifetime to not start a new war.' He also wrote that 'there is historically little support for America to be actively engaged in yet another offensive war in the Middle East. We must work for and pray for peace.'
Hamilton Spectator
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
In his own words: Trump's Iran strike tests his rhetoric on ending wars
During his campaigns for president, Donald Trump spoke of the need to stop engaging in 'endless' or 'forever wars,' and said removing 'warmongers and America-last globalists' was among his second-term foreign policy priorities. Trump's move to strike Iranian nuclear sites risks embroiling the United States in the sort of conflict he once derided. Like other recent American presidents, Trump said he would not permit Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon. In recent months, he had held out hope that diplomacy could avoid the strike he announced Saturday. Trump's consideration of military action had opened a schism among his 'Make American Great Again' movement and drew criticism from some of its most high-profile members. Here's a look at some of Trump's rhetoric before his announcement Saturday about the strikes: 2024 campaign Trump often drew lines of contrasts with his Republican primary opponents. In January 2024, at a New Hampshire rally, he referred to former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley , who was U.N. ambassador during Trump's first term, as a 'warmonger' whose mentality on foreign policy is, 'Let's kill people all over the place and let's make a lot of money for those people that make the messes.' During a Jan. 6, 2024, rally before the Iowa caucuses, Trump told supporters that returning him to the White House would allow the country to 'turn the page forever on those foolish, stupid days of never-ending wars. They never ended.' Rolling out his foreign policy priorities during that campaign — something Trump's orbit called ' Agenda 47 ' — he posted a video online in which he talked of how he was 'the only president in generations who didn't start a war.' In that video, Trump called himself 'the only president who rejected the catastrophic advice of many of Washington's Generals, bureaucrats, and the so-called diplomats who only know how to get us into conflict, but they don't know how to get us out.' First term In his first term, Trump often referenced his anti-interventionist pledge. During his 2019 State of the Union address, he said, 'As a candidate for president, I loudly pledged a new approach. Great nations do not fight endless wars.' There were frequent clashes with some of his advisers over whether or not the United States should take a more involved stance abroad. That included his hawkish national security adviser John Bolton, with whom Trump had strong disagreements on Iran, Afghanistan and other global challenges. As Turkey launched a military operation into Syria targeting Kurdish forces, Trump in October 2019 posted a series of tweets citing his anti-interventionist stance. 'Turkey has been planning to attack the Kurds for a long time. They have been fighting forever,' Trump posted Oct. 10, 2019, on the platform then known as Twitter. 'We have no soldiers or Military anywhere near the attack area. I am trying to end the ENDLESS WARS.' A week later, he reiterated his position: 'I was elected on getting out of these ridiculous endless wars, where our great Military functions as a policing operation to the benefit of people who don't even like the USA.' 2016 campaign Candidate Trump was vociferous in his disdain for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, calling them both mistakes. 'We made a terrible mistake getting involved there in the first place,' Trump told CNN in October 2015, referencing Afghanistan. 'We spent $2 trillion, thousands of lives, we don't even have the oil,' he said of the Iraq War during a March 2016 town hall hosted by the same network. During a primary debate, Trump engaged in a terse exchange with Jeb Bush particularly over U.S. military action in Iraq, launched by President George W. Bush, the Florida governor's brother. 'We should have never been in Iraq,' Trump said in February 2016. 'They lied. They said there were weapons of mass destruction. There were none and they knew that there were none.' What about earlier? Trump's press secretary said Wednesday that the president's beliefs that Iran should not achieve nuclear armament predated his time in politics. And his earlier writings indicate that, while candidate Trump has said he opposed the Iraq War, those sentiments were different before the conflict began. In his 2000 book 'The America We Deserve,' the businessman wrote that he felt a military strike on Iraq might be needed, given the unknown status of that nation's nuclear capabilities. 'I'm no warmonger,' Trump wrote. 'But the fact is, if we decide a strike against Iraq is necessary, it is madness not to carry the mission to its conclusion. When we don't, we have the worst of all worlds: Iraq remains a threat, and now has more incentive than ever to attack us.' ___ Kinnard can be reached at Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. 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