MAGA isolationists brace for details of Ukraine security guarantees

MAGA is anxious for clarity on U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine, torn between trusting President Trump's peace efforts and the movement's deep-rooted aversion to foreign interventionism.Why it matters: As an essential precondition for ending the war, Ukraine wants written, binding assurances that its allies — namely Europe, but preferably the U.S. — will defend it from future Russian attacks.The details of those security guarantees will be negotiated in the coming weeks, but could potentially involve European peacekeepers in Ukraine backed by U.S. air power.As leader of the "America First" movement, Trump must navigate a delicate balance: offering enough security to satisfy Kyiv without making military commitments that could fracture his base.What they're saying: "These are tripwires. This is where things go from regional conflicts to world wars," MAGA godfather Steve Bannon said on his "War Room" podcast, blasting U.S. security guarantees as a recipe for decades-long involvement in Ukraine.Driving the news: In his recent burst of diplomacy — beginning with Friday's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin — Trump has repeatedly stressed that Ukraine will not join NATO and that no U.S. troops will be on the ground in Ukraine."You have my assurance, you know, I'm president," Trump told Fox News Tuesday morning when pressed on how he could ensure that U.S. troops wouldn't be patrolling the Ukraine-Russia border after he leaves office.Yes, but: White House envoy Steve Witkoff suggested Sunday that the U.S. guarantee could resemble "Article Five-like protection" — the core NATO principle that an attack on one ally is treated as an attack on all.That would open the door to direct U.S. intervention if Russia were to attack the peacekeeping mission of a NATO ally in Ukraine.Trump also told Fox that the U.S. "will help by air" — presumably meaning American pilots would be involved in the mission, and thus vulnerable to a potential Russian attack.How it's playing: Breitbart News Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlow told Axios that there's "no reason to be a Panican at this point" — Trump's jab at Republicans who panic in response to media alarmism.But he warned that U.S. involvement could escalate quickly, and that questions remain about the potential for the U.S. to get sucked into a shooting war with Russia."We know full well what happens if those [European] troops get attacked: all those nations will expect American forces to get involved. That's when things get complicated," Marlow said.Libby Emmons, the editor-in-chief of The Post Millennial and Human Events, said "there aren't enough answers yet as to what those guarantees will look like or what it means for U.S. involvement." But so far, she told Axios, the sentiment among MAGA is one of "cautious optimism.""The base is always willing to give Trump the benefit of the doubt, but it makes people anxious," added conservative commentator Ryan Girdusky.Zoom out: Trump still retains a deep well of goodwill from his base as he pushes to end to the yearslong war in Ukraine.While one MAGAworld operative acknowledged the "uncertainty" in negotiatoins, the movement finds it "reassuring" to hear confirmation from Trump that Ukraine won't join NATO.Past fissures between Trump and his base have almost always healed — either through policy pivots or the simple passage of time binding together two parties reluctant to part ways.The bottom line: Foreign intervention remains a third rail for MAGA. Until a deal is signed, the movement will be watching closely for any commitments that could put U.S. troops on the line to defend Ukraine.

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