The Republican civil war over Iran has taken a dramatic turn as former Trump loyalist Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly blasted Fox News for promoting what she called “fake news” to justify Donald Trump’s military plans in the region.
Long a favorite of the MAGA wing, Fox News has often amplified the America First narrative. But Greene, who resigned from Congress in January amid her growing rift with Trump, accused the network of “brainwashing boomers” in support of a war the MAGA base allegedly opposes. On X, she wrote, “Fox News is now the fake news. Brainwashing boomers to support what we voted against.”
Her criticism came shortly after fellow MAGA figure Ann Coulter slammed the network for portraying the Iran conflict as a Trump success. Coulter compared the coverage to the network’s prior false claims about Dominion Voting Systems’ role in the 2020 election, a claim that led to a $787.5 million defamation settlement in 2023.
MAGA influencers’ ire comes amid U.S. military escalation in Iran, including plans for ground operations with thousands of troops already deployed. Public opinion appears wary: a recent YouGov-Economist poll found 62 percent of Americans oppose sending in ground forces, citing rising casualties and soaring gas prices.
Far-right commentator Alex Jones added fuel to the backlash, posting video he claimed showed civilian destruction in Tehran and labeling it a “war crime,” criticizing Trump’s preparations for a ground invasion.
Greene has been consistently vocal against Trump’s foreign interventions, warning that the conflict could imperil Republicans’ midterm prospects. Her feud with Trump, which intensified over the release of the Jeffrey Epstein case files, led the president to call her a “traitor.” The White House has dismissed her criticisms, with a spokesman telling Fox News Digital she is a “quitter” who abandoned her constituents mid-term.
While Greene, Coulter, and other MAGA influencers are speaking out, Trump’s core base remains largely supportive of the war, with 91 percent of MAGA voters backing military action in the region according to the same March survey. Nevertheless, the growing MAGA backlash against Fox highlights cracks in the relationship between the network, the former president, and his loyalist supporters.
