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How Donald Trump's weapon deal with Ukraine is inviting Maga ire
US President Donald Trump has taken a harsher line on Vladimir Putin recently. Reuters File
Since the moment he announced he was running for president, Donald Trump's base has had unshakable faith in him.
They stayed with him through the Access Hollywood tape when it looked like his campaign was at an end.
They remained loyal after he was defeated by Joe Biden in the 2020 election and during the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol.
Trump himself had boasted about his followers' loyalty, saying he could probably get away with shooting someone on 5th Avenue.
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However, seven months into his second term, the Make America Great Again (Maga) movement seems to be growing more upset with Trump.
Why is this happening?
Because of the Ukraine war, which Trump vowed to end 'within 24 hours' of taking office.
But it's not so much as the war continuing itself.
More specifically, it's about Washington sending weapons to Kyiv to defend itself.
But what happened? What is Maga world saying?
Let's take a closer look:
What happened?
Trump returned to the Oval Office as the 'anti-war candidate'.
He claimed that Kamala Harris getting the top job would make World War III an inevitability.
He vowed to bring an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine quickly and painlessly.
He had criticised the US' proclivity to get into 'forever wars' or endless wars.
He repeatedly vowed that he was going to 'stop wars' instead of starting them.
As a candidate during the previous elections, he had also taken shots at the 'warmongers and America-last' globalists including his rivals Nikki Haley in 2024 and Jeb Bush in 2016.
'Let's kill people all over the place and let's make a lot of money for those people that make the messes', Trump said of Haley in January 2024.
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'We should have never been in Iraq,' Trump said in February 2016. 'They lied. They said there were weapons of mass destruction. There were none and they knew that there were none.'
However, his actions as president during his 2nd term have been nearly diametrically opposed to what he said on the campaign trail.
Not only has Trump supported Israel's war in Gaza, he has also conducted airstrikes on the Houthis.
Many in his Maga base, whose patience and love for Israel runs deep, have backed him up on this.
Some even supported Trump bombing Iran's nuclear facilities.
A B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, takes off at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on April 14, 2023. (Representative Photo, Credit: US Air Force)
However, it looks like Trump's decision to send weapons to Ukraine to help in its war with Russia may be one war too many for the Maga faithful.
Trump on Monday announced that the United States would be sending weapons to Ukraine via Nato.
Trump, during a meeting with Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte, announced that the organisation would pay for the weapons.
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'We've made a deal today where we are going to be sending them weapons and they're going to be paying for them', Trump said.
He also warned Russia to end the war with Ukraine in 50 days.
Trump on Sunday had said the US would send Ukraine 'various pieces of very sophisticated military equipment'.
'We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need,' Trump added.
While Trump didn't specify the number of Patriot batteries to be sent he said 'they're going to have some because they do need protection'.
Trump has long since called for other nations in Nato to increase their defence spending.
Many in the orthodox wing of the Republican Party, known as the hawks, have erupted with joy.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a huge Trump supporter, said it was a turning point'.
'The game, regarding [Vladimir] Putin's invasion of Russia, is about to change', Graham added.
This decision came a week after the Pentagon paused the flow of weapons to Ukraine.
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This decision, seemingly made by the deputy defence secretary and signed off by his boss Pete Hegseth, was initially celebrated by some in the Maga camp.
Trump in recent weeks has taken a harsher line on Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he previously praised.
These recent events have cast a pall over Maga world, many of whom have taken a stance that is just short of being pro-Russia.
What is Maga world saying?
Some in Maga world are furious with Trump's decision.
Republican Congresswomen Marjorie Taylor Greene on social media slammed 'backdoor deals through Nato'.
Greene said the development was in stark contrast to what she promised voters on the campaign trail.
'It's not just Ukraine; it's all foreign wars in general and a lot of foreign aid,' she said. 'This is what we campaigned on. This is what I promised also to my district. This is what everybody voted for. And I believe we have to maintain the course.'
'Without a shadow of a doubt, our tax dollars are being used', she added. 'I said it on every rally stage: no more money to Ukraine. We want peace. We just want peace for those people,' she said. 'And guess what? People haven't changed'.
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Surface-to-air missile launchers of the Patriot (Wisla) system newly added into the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) at an army base in Sochaczew, Poland. File image/Reuters
Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, who many during the first term referred to as 'Trump's brain', also slammed the decision.
Bannon on his podcast called the Ukraine conflict a "European war".
'Ukraine is getting so dangerous", Bannon said.
'It's a European war. Let Europe deal with it'. 'They have the resources. They have the manpower'.
'We're about to arm people we have literally no control over', Bannon added. 'This is old-fashioned, grinding war in the bloodlands of Europe - and we're being dragged into it'.
A former Trump campaign official said Europe buying the weapons somewhat mitigates the anger from the Maga base.
'But we still hate it,' the official told Politico. 'This is not our war, and escalation isn't in America's interest'.
The larger question is if this Ukraine decision will cause Trump's base to turn on him in the long run.
Ukraine unpopular with Republicans
Data show that Ukraine isn't very popular with Republicans.
Just 59 per cent of Republicans think the US is helping Ukraine 'too much,' as per a March poll.
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That number was at 56 per cent in another poll.
Just 1 in 10 Republicans want the US more involved in the conflict.
There are also little concerns about Russia within the party.
Rescue workers extinguish a fire of a house destroyed by a Russian strike in Markhalivka village, Kyiv region, Ukraine. AP file/Representative image
Only 25 per cent of Republican-leaning Americans said they are 'extremely' or 'very' concerned about Russia defeating Ukraine in a March poll.
Only 29 per cent said they were concerned that Russia would invade other nations.
A mere 40 per cent think Russia is the 'enemy'.
A Reuters poll also showed 58% of Republicans tended to agree with the statement 'the problems of Ukraine are none of our business, and we should not interfere.'
A majority of Republicans (63-34) also oppose sending weapons and money to Ukraine.
Remember, the base right now is already irate at Trump over his handling of the files related to the Jeffrey Epstein allegations.
While Trump has called on his supporters to 'move on' from the Epstein saga, many Maga supporters show no signs of being inclined to do so.
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However, history shows that the Maga faithful have always trailed in the direction that Trump led them in.
While the idea of conducting strikes on Iran initially repulsed some on the right, eight in 10 Republicans afterwards backed up their Commander-in-Chief.
Since so many in Maga land have stuck with Trump through thick and thin, it is unlikely that Ukraine will be the final straw.
With inputs from agencies
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