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Zmeselo
Senior Member+
Posts: 35541
Joined: 30 Jul 2010, 20:43

War on Iran is splitting Trump’s Maga movement

Post by Zmeselo » 18 Jun 2025, 21:04



Opinion
War on Iran is splitting Trump’s Maga movement

As a decision on involvement looms, some of the president’s most ardent supporters have turned against him

Gideon Rachman

https://www.ft.com/content/02d13566-27c ... c49365b5c3

Published yesterday


A fire blazes north-west of Tehran after an Israeli bombing campaign. Many of Donald Trump’s most loyal supporters would consider US intervention in the conflict to be a deep betrayal © Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images
Anyone slobbering for the US to become fully involved in the Israel/Iran war is not America First/Maga . . . We are sick and tired of foreign wars.
Those are the words of congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene — normally regarded as one of Donald Trump’s most loyal followers. They highlight the deep split that has emerged inside the Maga movement as the US president warms to the idea of using America’s military might against Iran.

For many of Trump’s most ardent supporters that would be a deep betrayal. One of his most consistent campaign themes was his condemnation of “forever wars”. In one typical outburst in 2019, he proclaimed:
Going into the Middle East is the worst decision ever made.
Many of the politicians and pundits who are most strongly associated with the Maga movement have now come out explicitly against deeper US involvement in the war on Iran. The critics include Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon and former congressman Matt Gaetz. Carlson has used his newsletter to urge:
Drop Israel. Let them fight their own wars,


adding:
What happens next will define Donald Trump’s presidency.
There are also signs that the anti-war right is linking up with the anti-war left. When Thomas Massie, a conservative Republican congressman, filed a House resolution seeking to block https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2 ... s-00410454 US involvement in the war this week, he swiftly got a host of co-sponsors from the Democratic left, including congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Trump himself has already jabbed back at his critics from within the Maga movement, calling Carlson “kooky” on social media. Meanwhile, supporters of America’s traditional role as world policeman (sometimes referred to as neoconservatives) within the Republican party have rallied to back Trump’s increasingly bellicose line on Iran. The supporters include senators Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell.

The split within Trump’s base extends to the rightwing media scene. Greene has condemned Fox News and the New York Post for cheerleading for the war. Carlson, meanwhile, has used his own media platform to go after the neoconservatives — conducting a notably aggressive interview with Ted Cruz, in which he accused the Texas Republican senator of cheerleading for a war against a country that he knew nothing about.

Vice-president JD Vance is known to have been sceptical about the case for war with Iran for many months. Buckley Carlson, Tucker’s son, is his deputy press secretary.

But Vance is now trying to act as peacemaker between the clashing factions within the Maga movement. In a post on X, he pleaded that Trump
has earned some trust on this issue.


He also tried to reassure uneasy Maga supporters that the president is
only interested in using the American military to accomplish the American people’s goals.
An Economist/YouGov poll taken a few days ago suggested that https://responsiblestatecraft.org/iran- ... 672386204/ 53 per cent of Trump supporters opposed the US joining the war, with just 19 per cent supporting involvement. That could change, if and when American planes start flying sorties over Iran. The early days of a war often create a “rally round the flag” effect.

But if the war goes wrong, there will be bitter recriminations. Iran could be the issue that breaks the Maga movement.

Zmeselo
Senior Member+
Posts: 35541
Joined: 30 Jul 2010, 20:43

Re: War on Iran is splitting Trump’s Maga movement

Post by Zmeselo » 18 Jun 2025, 21:13



EUROPE
Spain urges arms embargo on Israel, calls for renewed talks on Iran’s nuclear program

'EU is Israel’s largest trading partner. We must impose arms embargo, not sell weapons to Israel while this war continues,' says Spanish foreign minister

Necva Tastan Sevinc

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/spain-u ... am/3601678#

17.06.2025



ISTANBUL

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Tuesday called for an arms embargo on Israel and urged the resumption of diplomatic negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

Speaking to Bloomberg TV, Albares stressed the EU's responsibility in light of its strong economic ties with Israel.
The European Union is Israel’s largest trading partner in the world. We must impose an arms embargo, not sell weapons to Israel while this war continues,
he said, Spanish daily El Pais reported.

Albares expressed deep concern over the lack of de-escalation between Israel and Iran, warning that the ongoing hostilities pose a serious threat to regional stability.

He also emphasized the importance of reviving diplomatic dialogue with Iran regarding its nuclear activities, underscoring Spain’s commitment to non-proliferation and regional peace.

Tensions in the Middle East have intensified since Friday, following Israeli airstrikes targeting several locations across Iran, including military and nuclear sites, which triggered retaliatory attacks from Tehran.

Israeli officials reported that Iranian missile strikes have killed at least 24 people and injured hundreds.

Iran stated that the Israeli attacks have resulted in at least 224 deaths and more than 1,000 injuries.

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