MAGA warns Trump of "massive schism" over Israeli strikes on Iran

MAGA erupted Thursday with warnings that the movement could fracture if President Trump green-lights — or fails to stop — Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.Why it matters: Non-interventionism is one of the core pillars of the "America First" movement — arguably as important to the MAGA base as immigration and trade.But plenty of Trump allies in the Republican Party are fiercely pro-Israel, and believe the U.S. should support its closest Middle Eastern ally if it chooses to attack Iran.Long-bubbling tensions in the MAGA movement are exploding into public view amid reports that nuclear talks with Iran are failing and Israel is preparing a military option.The latest: "I'd love to avoid the conflict. Iran's going to have to negotiate a little bit tougher. Meaning they're going to have to give us some things they're not willing to give us right now," Trump told reporters Thursday."I don't want to say imminent, but it looks like it's something that could very well happen," he added when asked about the timing of Israel's potential attack."Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Other than that, I want them to be successful."What they're saying: "A direct strike on Iran right now would disastrously split the Trump coalition," MAGA podcaster Jack Posobiec wrote on X, predicting it could cost Republicans the midterms.Charlie Kirk, the MAGA activist with close ties to the White House, warned that "no issue currently divides the right as much as foreign policy.""I'm very concerned based on [everything] I've seen in the grassroots the last few months that this will cause a massive schism in MAGA and potentially disrupt our momentum and our insanely successful Presidency," Kirk posted on X.Mollie Hemingway, editor-in-chief of The Federalist, said Trump "knows in his gut that this would be a strategic policy mistake" — and that if the White House proceeds, it would be seen as "an unforgivable betrayal."The big picture: Trump's team has long been divided on how to deal with Iran, as Axios' Barak Ravid has reported.Some aides, including Vice President Vance, are pushing for a diplomatic solution. Others, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are skeptical Iran will ever agree to a deal that significantly limits its nuclear program.White House envoy Steve Witkoff, who is leading negotiations, privately warned top Senate Republicans last week that Iran could unleash a mass casualty response if Israel bombs their nuclear facilitiesTrump's outside supporters are also divided: Conservative commentators Tucker Carlson and Mark Levin have been in a vicious public feud over Levin's pro-Israel advocacy, and vice versa.The intrigue: Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as recently as Monday that he believed there was a chance of reaching a nuclear deal with Iran and therefore opposes military action.But on Wednesday, the U.S. suddenly moved to evacuate some staff and family of service-members from Baghdad and military bases in the Gulf, citing regional tensions.CBS News and the New York Times have reported that Israel is prepared to launch an attack on Iran's nuclear sites, even with Witkoff still planning to participate in a sixth round of nuclear talks on Sunday.""We are fairly close to an agreement [with Iran]," Trump told reporters Thursday. "As long as I think there is an agreement, I don't want [Israel] going in."Between the lines: Israel's role in U.S. foreign policy has increasingly exacerbated MAGA's internal divisions.Hawkish Republicans and evangelicals support Trump's historically pro-Israel positions, including his decision to withdraw from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem.Others wonder if the close relationship is worth the billions of dollars in aid and weapons that Washington sends to Israel — and the military risks that come with it.These non-interventionists are joined by a slice of MAGA that promotes antisemitism and conspiracy theories about Israel controlling American politicians.The bottom line: Some of Trump's popularity can be traced back to his early promises to keep out the U.S. out of Middle Eastern quagmires and advocate solely for Americans interests. A strike on Iran, supporters argue, risks undermining one of his most fundamental promises: "No new wars."

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'It will only get worse': Trump warns next round of Israeli strikes on Iran will be 'more brutal'

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