Donald Trump’s push toward possible U.S. military action against Iran has thrown the MAGA movement into chaos, sparking a rare and fierce public fight between Trump and one of his biggest media allies, Tucker Carlson.
For years, Trump won support by promising to end “forever wars” and avoid costly foreign conflicts. During the 2024 campaign, he criticized Democrats like Kamala Harris and Liz Cheney for pushing for endless wars in Muslim countries. Many believed this anti-war message was a key reason Trump’s MAGA base stayed loyal.
But now, that image is cracking.
Tucker Carlson, a top MAGA voice and former Fox News host, is openly warning Trump not to drag America into war alongside Israel against Iran. Carlson, along with Steve Bannon and others, argues that getting involved would betray MAGA’s promise to avoid new military entanglements.
Trump is not listening.
On Truth Social, Trump lashed out at Carlson, demanding, “Somebody please explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!” He also told reporters, “I don’t know what Tucker Carlson is saying,” showing his frustration with the criticism.
Carlson has accused Trump of being “complicit” in escalating the conflict with Iran by supporting Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and military leaders. Trump is reportedly considering sending U.S. B-2 bombers to help destroy Iran’s nuclear enrichment facility at Fordo—a move that would mark a serious escalation in Middle East involvement.
This disagreement has split the MAGA coalition. Carlson has called out Fox News figures like Sean Hannity for pushing Trump toward direct U.S. military action, labeling them “warmongers.” He warns that war could alienate MAGA supporters who want to end endless wars. At the same time, prominent MAGA lawmakers like Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene are uneasy and urging Trump not to abandon the anti-war stance.
But how strong is MAGA’s anti-war sentiment in reality?
A key test is underway in Congress. Republican Representative Thomas Massie introduced a resolution to stop Trump from starting a war with Iran without explicit congressional approval. Democrat Ro Khanna co-sponsored it. If this bill gets a vote, it will force lawmakers to publicly take sides on whether MAGA truly opposes new wars.
Khanna called this a “test of whether the MAGA movement is really antiwar.”
While many Democrats support the resolution, it remains unclear how many MAGA Republicans will back it. Some experts argue that Trump’s supposed anti-war image is misleading—he supports aggressive military strikes when he sees them as beneficial, loosening rules on drone attacks and increasing civilian casualties during his first term.
Trump’s dislike for international alliances is more about breaking up the current order than avoiding conflict. And his hostility toward the “deep state” is rooted in frustration over being held accountable, not in peace activism.
In the feud with Carlson, Trump is angry at his critic, not at the deep state or the military-industrial complex. For Trump, anyone who challenges him publicly becomes an enemy.
The drive to limit Trump’s war powers also clashes with MAGA’s desire for him to wield near-total authority—acting as a strong leader free from congressional checks. Supporting restrictions on his ability to go to war would be a major break from MAGA’s usual push for unchecked power.
Still, MAGA Republicans could prove their anti-war claims true by backing the congressional resolution. But many have already given Trump significant freedom to act, making a strong break unlikely.
Trump made his stance clear, posting: “AMERICA FIRST means many GREAT things, including the fact that, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
For Trump, “America First” means whatever he decides, even if it means backing war with Iran. The real question is whether MAGA will follow him again—or finally push back.
