The Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, a cornerstone of President Donald Trump’s support, is facing a growing divide over America’s role in the intensifying Israel-Iran conflict, spotlighted by a heated exchange between Tucker Carlson and Senator Ted Cruz, alongside Steve Bannon’s outspoken stance. As of 19 June 2025, this schism reveals a clash between isolationist and interventionist factions, threatening the cohesion of Trump’s political base.
The rift surfaced dramatically in a two-hour interview on The Tucker Carlson Show, where Carlson, a leading isolationist, challenged Cruz, a pro-Israel hawk, over his advocacy for U.S. support of Israel’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites. Carlson pressed Cruz on Iran’s demographics, asking, “How many people live in Iran?” Cruz’s response, “I don’t know the population,” prompted Carlson to retort, “You don’t know the population of the country you seek to topple?” The confrontation intensified as Carlson accused Cruz of ignorance, stating, “You’re a senator calling for the overthrow of a government and you don’t know anything about the country!” Cruz clarified that America supports Israel’s actions, not direct attacks, but the clip, viewed over 15 million times on X, amplified the MAGA divide.
Cruz later called Carlson’s tactics a “silly game” on social media, accusing him of undermining Trump and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). On his podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz, he branded Carlson’s foreign policy views “utterly mad,” defending his own position of strength without ground troops. Cruz argued that backing Israel aligns with Trump’s policies and counters Iran’s alleged assassination plots against Trump, referencing a 2024 U.S. Justice Department charge against an Iranian operative.
Steve Bannon, a prominent MAGA figure, has vehemently opposed U.S. involvement, warning on his War Room podcast that it risks “fracturing the coalition” and derailing Trump’s domestic agenda, such as large-scale deportations. In a 16 June discussion with Carlson, Bannon criticised Israel’s calls for U.S. offensive support, noting, “Their ‘go it alone’ lasts about six hours.” Both blamed “deep state” influences and hawkish Republicans for pushing Trump towards conflict, with Carlson warning that a broader war could spell “the end of the American empire” and Trump’s presidency.
The MAGA movement mirrors this split. Isolationists like Carlson, Bannon, and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene argue that intervention betrays Trump’s “America First” pledge to avoid foreign wars. Greene, in a 16 June X post, called foreign conflicts “a betrayal” of voters, echoing Carlson’s view that they “harm innocents” and drain resources. Hawks like Cruz, Senator Lindsey Graham, and media figures Mark Levin and Sean Hannity advocate robust support for Israel, framing Iran’s nuclear ambitions as a critical threat. Trump’s demand for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” on Truth Social tilts towards the hawks, though he avoids committing to direct strikes.
This divide challenges Trump’s leadership. While he downplayed Carlson’s criticism at the G7 summit, claiming supporters “adore me more than ever,” the debate persists. Figures like Donald Trump Jr. urge trust in Trump’s judgment, but others, including Representative Thomas Massie, propose resolutions to block military action without congressional approval. As Israel’s campaign escalates, the MAGA movement’s unity remains precarious, with Iran exposing its ideological fault lines.
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