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WASHINGTON, June 19 — The possibility of a U.S. military strike on Iran is exposing deep rifts within the coalition that brought President Donald Trump to power, as members of his MAGA base urge him to avoid dragging the country into another Middle Eastern conflict.
Several of Trump’s key Republican allies — including former top strategist Steve Bannon — are now at odds with the president on this issue, despite their shared “America First” ideology. Bannon, a prominent voice within the anti-interventionist camp, cautioned against joining Israel in a military campaign to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program without a diplomatic agreement in place.
“We can’t do this again,” Bannon said during a press briefing hosted by the Christian Science Monitor in Washington. “It would tear the country apart. We can’t have another Iraq.”
Many in the GOP’s isolationist wing are alarmed at how quickly Trump has shifted from pushing for diplomacy with Iran to considering military support for Israel — possibly involving the deployment of a 30,000-pound bunker-busting bomb.
This growing unease signals potential backlash from the “Make America Great Again” movement if Trump commits to military involvement. Iran has warned of serious consequences for Americans should the U.S. join the conflict, although it has not provided details.
Such a decision would mark a significant departure from Trump’s usual reluctance to engage in overseas military actions. It could derail his diplomatic efforts in the Gulf, distract from his attempts to end the war in Ukraine, and complicate ongoing trade negotiations with other nations.
Though constitutionally barred from seeking a third term, Trump remains heavily reliant on his MAGA base, which helped secure his victories in the 2016 and 2024 elections. Alienating this base could hurt his popularity and influence Republican chances in the 2026 midterm elections.
When asked about the internal divisions, Trump appeared unfazed.
“My supporters love me more now than they did during the election — and I love them even more,” he told reporters at the White House. “But I have one clear goal: Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon.”
He acknowledged that some supporters are upset, but others stand with him on preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear power.
“I don’t want war,” he said. “But if the choice is between letting them fight or letting them have nukes — you do what you have to do.”
Marc Short, a former Trump legislative director and ally of Mike Pence, described the situation as “a pretty large rift” within Trump’s political circle. However, he believes most of the president’s supporters will stick with him.
“These disagreements are now out in the open, but I think loyalty to Trump outweighs any specific worldview,” he said.
Short also noted that aligning with Israel could work to Trump’s political advantage, as many conservatives strongly support the U.S.-Israel alliance. A Reuters/Ipsos poll in March found that 48% of Republicans backed using U.S. military force to defend Israel regardless of where threats originate, while only 28% disagreed. Among Democrats, 25% supported such action and 52% opposed it.
While Iran denies any plans to develop nuclear weapons, international experts believe it is pursuing such capabilities. Israel views this as a direct threat, and U.S. officials warn that an Iranian nuclear bomb could spark a regional arms race.
Bannon, host of the War Room podcast, stressed that Israel should handle its own operations and urged Trump to slow down and explain any decision to involve the U.S.
“This is an ancient civilization of 92 million people,” he said. “You don’t just dive into something like this — the American people must be informed and on board.”
Other MAGA-aligned figures expressing concern include former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia.
“Anyone pushing for full U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran war is not MAGA or America First,” Greene posted online. “We’re done with foreign wars. All of them.”
But not all Republicans agree. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said on Fox News that Trump should back Israel “to finish the job,” calling Iran an “existential threat” to America’s ally.
Tensions within the GOP were on full display when Carlson clashed with Senator Ted Cruz on his streaming show Tuesday night. A video clip of the exchange went viral as Carlson fiercely criticized Cruz for advocating regime change in Iran, prompting a fiery back-and-forth.
“You don’t know anything about Iran!” Carlson snapped.
“I’m not the Tucker Carlson expert on Iran,” Cruz replied.
“But you’re a senator calling for regime change,” Carlson fired back.
Vice President JD Vance sought to ease tensions on Monday, writing on social media that while people are justifiably wary of foreign entanglements, Trump has earned some level of trust on the issue.
With pressure mounting, both supporters and critics now await Trump’s next move. The president said yesterday that he has some ideas but has yet to make a final decision. — Reuters
