MAGA anti-interventionists warned US not to strike Iran
The lead-up to the strike exposed fissures within Trump's "Make American Great Again" base as some of that movement's most vocal leaders, with large followings of their own, expressed deep concern about the prospect of US involvement in the Israel-Iran war.
Here's a look at what some of Trump's biggest advocates had said about US military involvement in Iran:
* STEVE BANNON
- One of the top advisers in Trump's 2016 campaign, Bannon told an audience in Washington on Wednesday that bitter feelings over Iraq were a driving force for Trump's first presidential candidacy and the MAGA movement.
- "One of the core tenets is no forever wars," Bannon said.
- The longtime Trump ally, who served a four-month sentence for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, acknowledged that while he and others argued against military intervention, "the MAGA movement will back Trump".
- Bannon said Trump would have to make the case to the American people if he wanted to get involved in Iran.
- "We don't like it. Maybe we hate it," Bannon said, predicting what the MAGA response would be. "But, you know, we'll get on board."
* TUCKER CARLSON
- The US commentator's rhetoric toward Trump was increasingly critical.
- Carlson, who headlined large rallies with the Republican during the 2024 campaign, suggested in June that the president's posture was breaking his pledge to keep the US out of new foreign entanglements.
- Trump clapped back at Carlson on social media, calling him "kooky".
- During an event at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said Carlson had "called and apologised" for calling him out, adding Carlson "is a nice guy".
- Carlson's sparred with Texan senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas on Wednesday for two hours over a variety of issues, primarily possible US involvement in Iran, with Carlson accusing Cruz of placing too much emphasis on protecting Israel in his foreign policy worldview.
- "You don't know anything about Iran," Carlson said to Cruz, after the senator said he didn't know Iran's population or its ethnic composition.
- "You're a senator who's calling for the overthrow of a government, and you don't know anything about the country."
* MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE
- The Georgia Republican, who wore the signature red MAGA cap for Democratic President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in 2024, has publicly sided with Carlson, criticising Trump for deriding "one of my favourite people".
- Saying the former Fox News commentator "unapologetically believes the same things I do", Greene wrote on X this past week that those beliefs include that "foreign wars/intervention/regime change put America last, kill innocent people, are making us broke, and will ultimately lead to our destruction".
- "That's not kooky," Greene added, using the same word Trump used to describe Carlson. "That's what millions of Americans voted for. It's what we believe is America First."
* ALEX JONES
- The far-right conspiracy theorist and Infowars host posted on social media earlier in the week a side-by-side of Trump's official presidential head shot and an artificial intelligence-generated composite of Trump and former Republican President George W Bush.
- Trump and many of his allies have long disparaged Bush for involving the US in the "forever wars" in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Writing "What you voted for" above Trump's image and "What you got" above the composite, Jones added: "I hope this is not the case …"
* CHARLIE KIRK
- Conservative political activist Kirk said in a Fox News interview at the start of the week that "this is the moment that President Trump was elected for" but he had warned of a potential MAGA divide over Iran.
- Days later, Kirk said, "Trump voters, especially young people, supported President Trump because he was the first president in my lifetime to not start a new war".
- He also wrote: "There is historically little support for America to be actively engaged in yet another offensive war in the Middle East - we must work for and pray for peace."
- In Kirk's view: "The last thing America needs right now is a new war. Our number one desire must be peace, as quickly as possible."
President Donald Trump's decision to strike three nuclear sites in Iran will almost assuredly draw more criticism from some of his Republican supporters, including high-profile backers who had said any such move would run counter to the anti-interventionism he promised to deliver.
The lead-up to the strike exposed fissures within Trump's "Make American Great Again" base as some of that movement's most vocal leaders, with large followings of their own, expressed deep concern about the prospect of US involvement in the Israel-Iran war.
Here's a look at what some of Trump's biggest advocates had said about US military involvement in Iran:
* STEVE BANNON
- One of the top advisers in Trump's 2016 campaign, Bannon told an audience in Washington on Wednesday that bitter feelings over Iraq were a driving force for Trump's first presidential candidacy and the MAGA movement.
- "One of the core tenets is no forever wars," Bannon said.
- The longtime Trump ally, who served a four-month sentence for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, acknowledged that while he and others argued against military intervention, "the MAGA movement will back Trump".
- Bannon said Trump would have to make the case to the American people if he wanted to get involved in Iran.
- "We don't like it. Maybe we hate it," Bannon said, predicting what the MAGA response would be. "But, you know, we'll get on board."
* TUCKER CARLSON
- The US commentator's rhetoric toward Trump was increasingly critical.
- Carlson, who headlined large rallies with the Republican during the 2024 campaign, suggested in June that the president's posture was breaking his pledge to keep the US out of new foreign entanglements.
- Trump clapped back at Carlson on social media, calling him "kooky".
- During an event at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said Carlson had "called and apologised" for calling him out, adding Carlson "is a nice guy".
- Carlson's sparred with Texan senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas on Wednesday for two hours over a variety of issues, primarily possible US involvement in Iran, with Carlson accusing Cruz of placing too much emphasis on protecting Israel in his foreign policy worldview.
- "You don't know anything about Iran," Carlson said to Cruz, after the senator said he didn't know Iran's population or its ethnic composition.
- "You're a senator who's calling for the overthrow of a government, and you don't know anything about the country."
* MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE
- The Georgia Republican, who wore the signature red MAGA cap for Democratic President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in 2024, has publicly sided with Carlson, criticising Trump for deriding "one of my favourite people".
- Saying the former Fox News commentator "unapologetically believes the same things I do", Greene wrote on X this past week that those beliefs include that "foreign wars/intervention/regime change put America last, kill innocent people, are making us broke, and will ultimately lead to our destruction".
- "That's not kooky," Greene added, using the same word Trump used to describe Carlson. "That's what millions of Americans voted for. It's what we believe is America First."
* ALEX JONES
- The far-right conspiracy theorist and Infowars host posted on social media earlier in the week a side-by-side of Trump's official presidential head shot and an artificial intelligence-generated composite of Trump and former Republican President George W Bush.
- Trump and many of his allies have long disparaged Bush for involving the US in the "forever wars" in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Writing "What you voted for" above Trump's image and "What you got" above the composite, Jones added: "I hope this is not the case …"
* CHARLIE KIRK
- Conservative political activist Kirk said in a Fox News interview at the start of the week that "this is the moment that President Trump was elected for" but he had warned of a potential MAGA divide over Iran.
- Days later, Kirk said, "Trump voters, especially young people, supported President Trump because he was the first president in my lifetime to not start a new war".
- He also wrote: "There is historically little support for America to be actively engaged in yet another offensive war in the Middle East - we must work for and pray for peace."
- In Kirk's view: "The last thing America needs right now is a new war. Our number one desire must be peace, as quickly as possible."
President Donald Trump's decision to strike three nuclear sites in Iran will almost assuredly draw more criticism from some of his Republican supporters, including high-profile backers who had said any such move would run counter to the anti-interventionism he promised to deliver.
The lead-up to the strike exposed fissures within Trump's "Make American Great Again" base as some of that movement's most vocal leaders, with large followings of their own, expressed deep concern about the prospect of US involvement in the Israel-Iran war.
Here's a look at what some of Trump's biggest advocates had said about US military involvement in Iran:
* STEVE BANNON
- One of the top advisers in Trump's 2016 campaign, Bannon told an audience in Washington on Wednesday that bitter feelings over Iraq were a driving force for Trump's first presidential candidacy and the MAGA movement.
- "One of the core tenets is no forever wars," Bannon said.
- The longtime Trump ally, who served a four-month sentence for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, acknowledged that while he and others argued against military intervention, "the MAGA movement will back Trump".
- Bannon said Trump would have to make the case to the American people if he wanted to get involved in Iran.
- "We don't like it. Maybe we hate it," Bannon said, predicting what the MAGA response would be. "But, you know, we'll get on board."
* TUCKER CARLSON
- The US commentator's rhetoric toward Trump was increasingly critical.
- Carlson, who headlined large rallies with the Republican during the 2024 campaign, suggested in June that the president's posture was breaking his pledge to keep the US out of new foreign entanglements.
- Trump clapped back at Carlson on social media, calling him "kooky".
- During an event at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said Carlson had "called and apologised" for calling him out, adding Carlson "is a nice guy".
- Carlson's sparred with Texan senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas on Wednesday for two hours over a variety of issues, primarily possible US involvement in Iran, with Carlson accusing Cruz of placing too much emphasis on protecting Israel in his foreign policy worldview.
- "You don't know anything about Iran," Carlson said to Cruz, after the senator said he didn't know Iran's population or its ethnic composition.
- "You're a senator who's calling for the overthrow of a government, and you don't know anything about the country."
* MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE
- The Georgia Republican, who wore the signature red MAGA cap for Democratic President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in 2024, has publicly sided with Carlson, criticising Trump for deriding "one of my favourite people".
- Saying the former Fox News commentator "unapologetically believes the same things I do", Greene wrote on X this past week that those beliefs include that "foreign wars/intervention/regime change put America last, kill innocent people, are making us broke, and will ultimately lead to our destruction".
- "That's not kooky," Greene added, using the same word Trump used to describe Carlson. "That's what millions of Americans voted for. It's what we believe is America First."
* ALEX JONES
- The far-right conspiracy theorist and Infowars host posted on social media earlier in the week a side-by-side of Trump's official presidential head shot and an artificial intelligence-generated composite of Trump and former Republican President George W Bush.
- Trump and many of his allies have long disparaged Bush for involving the US in the "forever wars" in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Writing "What you voted for" above Trump's image and "What you got" above the composite, Jones added: "I hope this is not the case …"
* CHARLIE KIRK
- Conservative political activist Kirk said in a Fox News interview at the start of the week that "this is the moment that President Trump was elected for" but he had warned of a potential MAGA divide over Iran.
- Days later, Kirk said, "Trump voters, especially young people, supported President Trump because he was the first president in my lifetime to not start a new war".
- He also wrote: "There is historically little support for America to be actively engaged in yet another offensive war in the Middle East - we must work for and pray for peace."
- In Kirk's view: "The last thing America needs right now is a new war. Our number one desire must be peace, as quickly as possible."
President Donald Trump's decision to strike three nuclear sites in Iran will almost assuredly draw more criticism from some of his Republican supporters, including high-profile backers who had said any such move would run counter to the anti-interventionism he promised to deliver.
The lead-up to the strike exposed fissures within Trump's "Make American Great Again" base as some of that movement's most vocal leaders, with large followings of their own, expressed deep concern about the prospect of US involvement in the Israel-Iran war.
Here's a look at what some of Trump's biggest advocates had said about US military involvement in Iran:
* STEVE BANNON
- One of the top advisers in Trump's 2016 campaign, Bannon told an audience in Washington on Wednesday that bitter feelings over Iraq were a driving force for Trump's first presidential candidacy and the MAGA movement.
- "One of the core tenets is no forever wars," Bannon said.
- The longtime Trump ally, who served a four-month sentence for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, acknowledged that while he and others argued against military intervention, "the MAGA movement will back Trump".
- Bannon said Trump would have to make the case to the American people if he wanted to get involved in Iran.
- "We don't like it. Maybe we hate it," Bannon said, predicting what the MAGA response would be. "But, you know, we'll get on board."
* TUCKER CARLSON
- The US commentator's rhetoric toward Trump was increasingly critical.
- Carlson, who headlined large rallies with the Republican during the 2024 campaign, suggested in June that the president's posture was breaking his pledge to keep the US out of new foreign entanglements.
- Trump clapped back at Carlson on social media, calling him "kooky".
- During an event at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said Carlson had "called and apologised" for calling him out, adding Carlson "is a nice guy".
- Carlson's sparred with Texan senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas on Wednesday for two hours over a variety of issues, primarily possible US involvement in Iran, with Carlson accusing Cruz of placing too much emphasis on protecting Israel in his foreign policy worldview.
- "You don't know anything about Iran," Carlson said to Cruz, after the senator said he didn't know Iran's population or its ethnic composition.
- "You're a senator who's calling for the overthrow of a government, and you don't know anything about the country."
* MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE
- The Georgia Republican, who wore the signature red MAGA cap for Democratic President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in 2024, has publicly sided with Carlson, criticising Trump for deriding "one of my favourite people".
- Saying the former Fox News commentator "unapologetically believes the same things I do", Greene wrote on X this past week that those beliefs include that "foreign wars/intervention/regime change put America last, kill innocent people, are making us broke, and will ultimately lead to our destruction".
- "That's not kooky," Greene added, using the same word Trump used to describe Carlson. "That's what millions of Americans voted for. It's what we believe is America First."
* ALEX JONES
- The far-right conspiracy theorist and Infowars host posted on social media earlier in the week a side-by-side of Trump's official presidential head shot and an artificial intelligence-generated composite of Trump and former Republican President George W Bush.
- Trump and many of his allies have long disparaged Bush for involving the US in the "forever wars" in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Writing "What you voted for" above Trump's image and "What you got" above the composite, Jones added: "I hope this is not the case …"
* CHARLIE KIRK
- Conservative political activist Kirk said in a Fox News interview at the start of the week that "this is the moment that President Trump was elected for" but he had warned of a potential MAGA divide over Iran.
- Days later, Kirk said, "Trump voters, especially young people, supported President Trump because he was the first president in my lifetime to not start a new war".
- He also wrote: "There is historically little support for America to be actively engaged in yet another offensive war in the Middle East - we must work for and pray for peace."
- In Kirk's view: "The last thing America needs right now is a new war. Our number one desire must be peace, as quickly as possible."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
11 minutes ago
- Perth Now
US deficit hits $291b in July despite tariff revenue
The US government's budget deficit grew nearly 20 per cent in July to $US291 billion ($A446 billion) despite a nearly $US21 billion jump in customs duty collections from President Donald Trump's tariffs, the Treasury Department says. The deficit for July was up 19 per cent, or $US47 billion, from July 2024. Receipts for the month grew two per cent, or $US8 billion, to $US338 billion, while outlays jumped 10 per cent, or $US56 billion, to $US630 billion - a record high for the month. The month of July this year had fewer business days than last year, so the Treasury Department said that adjusting for the difference would have increased receipts by about $US20 billion, resulting in a deficit of about $US271 billion. Net customs receipts in July grew to about $US27.7 billion from about $US7.1 billion in the year-earlier period due to higher tariff rates imposed by Trump, a Treasury official said. These collections were largely in line with the increase in June customs receipts after steady growth since April. Trump has touted the billions of dollars flowing into US coffers from his tariffs, but the duties are paid by companies importing the goods, with some costs often passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices. Consumer price index data on Tuesday showed increases in prices for some tariff-sensitive goods like furniture, footwear and auto parts, but they were offset by lower petrol prices in the overall index. For the first 10 months of the fiscal year, customs duties totalled $US135.7 billion, up $US73 billion, or 116 per cent, from the year-earlier period. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business Network the growing US tariff revenue will make it difficult for the Supreme Court to rule against Trump's import taxes if a legal challenge to them makes its way to the country's top court. The overall year-to-date budget results showed a $US1.629 trillion deficit, up seven per cent, or $US112 billion, from the same period a year earlier. Receipts were up six per cent, or $US262 billion, to $US4.347 trillion, a record high for the 10-month period, while outlays grew seven per cent, or $US374 billion, to $US5.975 trillion, also a 10-month record. The year-to-date customs duties were more than eaten up by an increase of 10 per cent or $US141 billion in costs for government healthcare programs, including Medicare for seniors and Medicaid for the poor, to $US1.557 trillion. The Social Security pension program, the largest single expense item, saw an increase of nine per cent or $US108 billion over the first 10 months of fiscal 2025 to $US1.368 trillion. Interest on the public debt also continued to grow, topping $US1.01 trillion for the 10-month period, an increase of six per cent or $US57 billion over the prior year due to slightly higher interest rates and increased debt levels. with AP
Sky News AU
40 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Washington DC homeless will be given option of shelter or jail as part of Donald Trump's crime crackdown
Homeless people in DC will be given the option of going to a shelter — or, if they refuse, jail — as part of President Trump's sweeping crime crackdown in the capital, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday. 'The new federal agencies who have been surging on the streets of the District of Columbia are going to enforce the laws that are already on the books here in Washington, DC,' Leavitt said. 'For far too long, these laws have been completely ignored and the homelessness problem has ravaged the city. So DC Code 22-1307 and DC Municipal Regulation 24-100 give the Metropolitan Police Department the authority to take action when it comes to homeless encampments.' Leavitt said that 'homeless individuals will be given the option to leave their encampment, to be taken to a homeless shelter to be offered addiction or mental health services, and if they refuse, they will be susceptible to fines or to jail time again.' Trump on Monday asserted federal control over the 3,400-officer DC Metropolitan Police Department and ordered the DC National Guard and hundreds of federal agents onto the streets to address crime. The president cited many high-profile recent crimes in DC, including the Aug. 3 attack on former Department of Government Efficiency staffer Edward Coristine, 19, during an alleged attempted carjacking and the June 30 murder of congressional intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, 21, in a drive-by shooting. 'While we are targeting criminals and trying to remove criminals off of the streets, we also want to make DC safe and beautiful,' Leavitt said Tuesday. 'That involves removing mentally disturbed individuals and homeless encampments as well. So we will be using these regulations and codes that already exist to clean up our streets.' Leavitt said that US Park Police, which has jurisdiction over most of DC's major traffic circles and triangles, will work alongside MPD to house or incarcerate the homeless, who during Mayor Muriel Bowser's prior cleanup attempts have migrated in response to crackdowns. 'The United States Park Police has actually done remarkable work in terms of removing homeless encampments from the city,' she said. Since March, '70 homeless encampments have been removed by the US Park Police,' Leavitt said. 'There are only two homeless encampments remaining in DC federal parks under the National Park Service's jurisdiction, and the removal of those two remaining camps is scheduled for this week.' Originally published as Washington DC homeless will be given option of shelter or jail as part of Donald Trump's crime crackdown
SBS Australia
41 minutes ago
- SBS Australia
Australia calls out famine and 'suffering in Gaza', as Israeli assaults reportedly intensify
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says "urgent action" is needed to stop and prevent further starvation in Gaza as suffering reaches "unimaginable levels". Wong has signed a joint statement with counterparts from 25 other countries, including Canada and the United Kingdom, calling on Israel to "provide authorisation" for humanitarian groups to operate in Gaza safely. "Lethal force must not be used at distribution sites, and civilians, humanitarians and medical workers must be protected," the letter, also signed by three European Union representatives, reads. The United Nations says since 27 May, at least 1,373 Palestinians have been killed while seeking food — 859 in the vicinity of the United States and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites and 514 along the routes of food convoys. Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City have intensified in recent days, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet approving plans to expand the war there. 'We need a ceasefire' The joint statement calls for a ceasefire to end the war and to continue efforts to secure peace in the region. "We need a ceasefire that can end the war, for hostages to be released and aid to enter Gaza by land unhindered," it reads. "All crossings and routes must be used to allow a flood of aid into Gaza, including food, nutrition supplies, shelter, fuel, clean water, medicine and medical equipment." Israel late last month announced steps to let more aid into the enclave, including pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas and announcing protected routes for aid convoys. White House responds to Australia's recognition plans Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has joined other countries in announcing Australia will recognise a Palestinian state in September as part of a two-state solution. A White House official has told Australian media that US President Donald Trump is "not married to any one solution" on the Israel-Palestine conflict. "As the president stated, he would be rewarding Hamas if he recognises a Palestinian state, and he doesn't think they should be rewarded. So he is not going to do that," the official told Nine newspapers. What is happening in Gaza City? Israel has since said it will launch a new offensive and seize control of Gaza City , which it captured shortly after the war's escalation in October 2023, before pulling out. The Israeli government has not provided an exact timetable on when its forces would enter the area, but according to the civil defence agency spokesperson Mahmud Bassal, airstrikes on Gaza City have been increasing for the past three days. Bassal said the residential neighbourhoods of Zeitoun and Sabra have been hit "with very heavy airstrikes targeting civilian homes, possibly including high-rise buildings". "For the third consecutive day, the Israeli occupation is intensifying its bombardment," he said. "The Israeli occupation is using all types of weapons in that area — bombs, drones, and also highly explosive munitions that cause massive destruction to civilian homes." Bassal said at least 24 people had been killed across Gaza on Tuesday, including several casualties caused by strikes on Gaza City. "The bombardment has been extremely intense for the past two days. With every strike, the ground shakes. There are martyrs under the rubble that no one can reach because the shelling hasn't stopped," said Majed al-Hosary, a resident in Zeitoun. Israeli officials have denied that starvation is occurring in Gaza, blaming Hamas for the hunger among Palestinians and saying a lot of aid has been distributed. Over 100 children reportedly die from starvation Five more people, including two children, have died of starvation and malnutrition in Gaza in the past 24 hours, the territory's health ministry said. The new deaths raised the number of deaths from the same causes to 227, including 103 children, since the war escalated, it added. Israel disputes the malnutrition fatality figures reported by the health ministry in Gaza. The crisis in Gaza escalated after Hamas-led militants stormed over the border into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza since then has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, left much of the enclave in ruins and wrought a humanitarian disaster with grave shortages of food, drinking water and safe shelter, according to Palestinian health officials. Netanyahu, whose far-right ultranationalist coalition allies want an outright Israeli takeover and re-settlement of Gaza, has vowed the war will not end until Hamas is eradicated.
