MAGA vs MAGA: Trump’s Tough Talk on Iran Sparks Fury

“I may do it. I may not do it. Nobody knows what I’m going to do.” President Donald Trump, June 17, 2025

President Trump’s vague threat to bomb Tehran has lit a firestorm at home, not from liberals, but from within his own MAGA base. As Israel continues its bombardment of Iranian infrastructure following last week’s drone strike on Haifa, Trump’s escalating language—paired with no clear commitment—has fractured the right into two bitterly opposed camps: MAGA hawks and MAGA purists.

Additionally, on June 12th, we wrote an article about Tulsi Gabbard’s Nuclear Warning, which was the same day that the American embassy in Iraq evacuated staff, which explains why she may have been concerned about Nuclear conflict a few days ago. Read her article here.

Flying with Israel: The MAGA Hawks Want War

Traditional Republican hawks and Trump loyalists like Senators Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz, and Tom Cotton have embraced Trump’s aggression as a long-overdue stand for America and its ally Israel. Appearing on Face the Nation, Graham urged Trump to “go all in… provide bombs… fly with Israel.” Cruz doubled down, saying an attack on Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility “makes a lot of sense” and even floated sending troops “if the risk got severe enough.” Former Senate leader Mitch McConnell mocked MAGA isolationists, calling it “a bad week for people who want to help Iran defeat Israel.”

Their stance: Iran must be confronted with military force, and Trump’s unpredictability is a strength.

“Regime change in Iran would enhance American security massively,” Cruz declared, pushing for economic strangulation and potential military strikes.

“If flying with Israel is what it takes, do it,” Graham echoed.

---

MAGA Populists Fight Back: “This Isn’t America First”

In sharp contrast, MAGA populist leaders—Steve Bannon, Tucker Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Charlie Kirk- warn that military intervention is a betrayal of Trump’s promise to keep America out of endless wars. These voices argue that Trump’s threats mirror George W. Bush’s lead-up to Iraq and could fracture his base just months before the 2026 midterms.

On his War Room podcast, Bannon delivered a blunt message:

“We can’t do this again. We can’t have another Iraq. A true America First policy means staying out of foreign entanglements.”

Carlson, on CNN, lashed out:

“You’re not going to convince me the Iranian people are my enemy… You don’t get to tell me who I have to hate.”

Greene, never one to mince words, tweeted:

“Foreign wars put America last. They kill innocent people. That’s not fringe—that’s America First.”

Even Charlie Kirk, who often straddles both camps, made his stance clear:

“The last thing America needs right now is a new war. Peace must be the number one priority.”

This “America First” faction sees Trump’s ambiguity as either dangerous posturing or, worse, a prelude to betrayal. Their fear: if Trump leads the U.S. into conflict with Iran, he risks shattering the coalition that powered his return to the White House.

The Left Reacts: Constitutional Alarm and a Call for Restraint

Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers wasted no time framing Trump’s Iran rhetoric as reckless and illegal. Senator Bernie Sanders introduced the No War Against Iran Act, demanding that “Congress make it clear that the United States will not be dragged into Netanyahu’s war of choice.”

In a viral thread, Sanders wrote:

“Another war in the Middle East could cost countless lives, waste trillions of dollars, and lead to even more conflict and displacement. I will do everything in my power to stop it.”

Progressives like Reps. Ro Khanna and Pramila Jayapal joined the call, while even libertarian-leaning Republicans such as Thomas Massie insisted “Congress must decide” on any use of force.

Their unified message: Trump does not have the authority to start a war on his own—and if he tries, they’ll challenge it in court and on the floor of Congress.

A Fractured Right, a Cautious Left, and a War That Isn’t Here—Yet

The divide inside Trump’s Republican coalition is startling—and politically explosive. Establishment Republicans and hawks believe military pressure is essential, while MAGA purists fear another global quagmire. Meanwhile, Democrats warn that the president is circumventing constitutional war powers, and Americans—still healing from Iraq and Afghanistan—aren’t eager for another costly campaign.

Whether Trump’s threats are genuine or merely bluster remains unclear. But the consequences are real: Israel continues its strikes. Tehran is on edge. And at home, the movement Trump built is threatening to tear itself apart.

As one strategist told our reporter:
“If Trump goes to war, he may win the headlines—but lose his base.”

Sources: Reporting from Reuters, AP, Al Jazeera and The Guardian on Trump’s Iran comments and the ensuing MAGA backlash. The quotes above are drawn from interviews, social media posts and news coverage of these events.