A growing civil war within the MAGA movement is brewing as President Donald Trump weighs whether to strike Iran in support of Israel’s military campaign. At the center of the conflict is Trump’s openness to using U.S. force against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure—an idea that has caused concern among key figures aligned with the “America First” doctrine. High-profile allies like Tucker Carlson and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene have criticized this potential shift, warning that it contradicts Trump’s longstanding promise to avoid new foreign wars. Carlson, in particular, was vocal in a newsletter and on Steve Bannon’s podcast, accusing Trump of complicity in an act of war.
In response to the backlash, Trump’s team reportedly initiated private outreach to ease tensions within his base. That effort seems to be having an effect, with Bannon stating that most MAGA supporters will likely back Trump if he chooses to move forward. Trump himself revealed that Carlson privately apologized to him for what he described as overly harsh criticism. Carlson had previously invested heavily in Trump’s 2024 campaign, promoting his anti-interventionist platform, but now finds himself at odds with hawkish conservatives like Senator Ted Cruz and Fox News host Mark Levin.
The U.S. is under pressure from Israel, which continues to target Iranian military and nuclear sites and has requested American assistance to strike Iran’s Fordow Nuclear Enrichment Center. This facility, buried deep inside a mountain, requires bunker-buster bombs that Israel does not possess. Trump has not yet approved the request. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that no final decision has been made and that Trump will wait roughly two weeks to leave room for diplomatic engagement.
