WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – In recent days, conservatives appear divided over over how President Donald Trump should handle the U.S. response to the Israel-Iran conflict.
During his campaign, the president promised to be a peacemaker but now that is he actively considering American military involvement in Iran, there has been some outcry from some of his closest allies.
Some prominent conservatives like Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon and Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) all have spoken against the U.S. getting involved in the conflict, arguing that such action is not line with President Trump’s “America First” promises.
“What you’re seeing is a major split inside the MAGA coalition over whether or not to go to war with Iran,” said Kelley Vlahos, Executive Editor of Responsible Statecraft Magazine.
Vlahos said the current discourse amongst conservatives about American military intervention in the conflict shows clear growing discontent within the MAGA coalition.
“There are a number of people within that MAGA coalition who are saying, Trump, you promised us America first, and it doesn’t really feel like America first when you are lurching us into an intervention in Iran on behalf of Israel,” she said.
But other prominent conservatives appear to be more hawkish like Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who wrote on X, “Overwhelmingly Americans view the Iran nuclear threat as existential to both the US and Israel. Go all in. Finish the job.”
President Trump said he will make his decision on how America will respond to the conflict within two weeks. During that time, Vlahos believes some conservatives will likely continue to call for American restraint, but perhaps not directly.
“I think that there are a lot of folks out there who are taking this moment to try to convince Trump, and how are they doing it? It’s not by attacking Trump head on. ‘You’re a fool. This is not what you promised us.’ But basically cautioning him – you’re going to lose your base if you drag us into this war,” she said.
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