As tensions escalate between Israel and Iran, a growing divide has emerged within the MAGA movement over whether the United States should intervene militarily. The internal rift among some of Donald Trump’s most prominent supporters marks one of the most significant fractures in the former president’s base in recent years.
Trump, who built his political identity around an “America First” and anti-interventionist foreign policy, has yet to make a final decision on whether the U.S. will join Israel in striking Iranian nuclear facilities. Speaking on June 18, Trump said, “I may do it. I may not do it. Nobody knows what I’m going to do.”
MAGA Supporters Split on Foreign Policy
Trump’s indecision has ignited debate within the MAGA movement. Prominent allies like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Steve Bannon, and Tucker Carlson have voiced strong opposition to military action, warning that another Middle East conflict would contradict the core principles of Trump’s movement.
Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist, stated during a recent podcast with Carlson that opposition to “forever wars” is a central pillar of MAGA. Carlson, in turn, warned that striking Iran could lead to the collapse of American global influence, saying, “We’re going to see the end of the American empire.”
“This has not been thought through,” Bannon added. “The American people are not there to get into another war right now.”
Carlson and Bannon’s stance reflects the non-interventionist spirit that helped Trump distinguish himself from traditional Republican hawks during his 2016 campaign. However, the pressure on Trump is mounting from more establishment conservatives.
GOP Hawks Push for Military Support to Israel
Figures like Sen. Lindsey Graham and former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are calling on Trump to fully support Israel, even if that includes direct U.S. military involvement.
“Be all in, President Trump, in helping Israel eliminate the nuclear threat,” Graham said on Fox News.
Radio host Hugh Hewitt and commentator Mark Levin have gone further, encouraging Trump to use bunker-busting bombs on Iranian nuclear sites.
The divide has led to rare public disagreements among longtime MAGA figures. Trump lashed out at Carlson, calling him “kooky” on social media, prompting Carlson to reportedly call and apologize. Still, the criticism from within the movement has continued.
Greene defended Carlson in a public statement, writing:
“Foreign wars… are making us broke, kill innocent people, and will ultimately lead to our destruction. That’s not kooky. That’s America First.”
Trump’s Balancing Act
While defending his position, Trump emphasized that his priority is preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, saying:
“If Iran gets a nuclear weapon, they’d be a terror all over the world.”
Despite the internal debate, Trump remained confident in his base’s loyalty:
“Some people may be unhappy now… but I have people outside of the base that can’t believe this is happening. They’re so happy.”
At a June 18 appearance while unveiling a 100-foot flagpole at the White House, Trump downplayed concerns about the divide.
“My supporters are more in love with me now than they were during the 2024 election.”
MAGA’s Identity Crisis?
The Iran issue has surfaced deep philosophical divisions within the MAGA coalition. Bannon described Trump as “kind of a moderate” compared to the more hardline faction represented by himself, Charlie Kirk, and Greene.
Carlson summed up the tension:
“The MAGA movement is the defining fact of American politics, and it kind of feels like it’s blowing up over this war in Iran.”
This internal MAGA civil war reveals the complex challenge Trump faces—balancing traditional national security imperatives with the anti-war convictions of his most loyal supporters. The coming days may not only determine the future of U.S. involvement in Iran, but also reshape the ideological core of the MAGA movement itself.
