Trump confronts rare MAGA purity tests on Iran and immigration

Ten years after Donald Trump hijacked the GOP with a promise to burn down the establishment, his own movement is warning him not to go soft.Why it matters: On two core articles of faith — no foreign wars and no protections for unauthorized immigrants — the Trump administration is facing a rare MAGA purity test.Zoom in: No debate has proven more divisive for the "America First" movement than Israel's war against Iran, and whether the U.S. should intervene to fully eliminate Tehran's nuclear program.MAGA's most outspoken isolationists — Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) — have warned that joining the war would betray Trump's legacy and potentially destroy his presidency.Pro-Israel hardliners — Laura Loomer, Mark Levin, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) — argue that nothing would be more "America First" than striking a regime that chants "Death to America" and has plotted to assassinate Trump.The intrigue: Amid mounting signs that the U.S. is considering joining the war, Trump says his fundamental position — that Iran cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon — has never wavered.Trump even publicly smacked down Carlson over his criticism of U.S. involvement, telling The Atlantic: "Well, considering that I'm the one that developed 'America First' ... I think I'm the one that decides that."Vice President Vance, a fierce critic of foreign interventions, defended Trump's position in a lengthy X post in which he said the president "may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian enrichment." Daily Wire commentator Matt Walsh. Screenshot via XBack at home, prominent MAGA voices were stunned to read Trump's Truth Social post last week suggesting that unauthorized immigrants who work in agriculture or hospitality might be spared from deportation.MAGA purists such as Bannon and Charlie Kirk believe that every immigrant here illegally should be deported — with some claiming Trump's new guidance created unfair carve-outs for "big agriculture."Much of the backlash landed on Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, after Axios and others reported she had lobbied for the exemption, citing potential labor shortages. "She needs to be removed," activist Ned Ryun wrote Sunday.Rollins hit back at the criticism, urging MAGA to "ignore the noise from the fake news media and the grifters trying to divide us," and declaring she supports "deportations of EVERY illegal alien."The latest: Amid the backlash, the Department of Homeland Security reversed Trump's guidance just a few days later, telling immigration agents to continue raids at farms, hotels and restaurants after all, the Washington Post first reported.Trump, sensitive to the outrage from his base and hardline immigration advisers, also on Sunday ordered expanded operations in Democrat-run cities and stressed that "all" undocumented immigrants must be deported.The big picture: Some MAGA influencers see the Iran and immigration flashpoints as inextricably linked.Bannon warned on his "War Room" podcast that getting "sucked into" a prolonged war in the Middle East would distract from Trump's most important domestic priority: mass deportations.Other Trump supporters view the two issues — helping Israel attack Iran and deporting unauthorized immigrants — as part of the same fight to preserve "Western Civilization." The bottom line: For all the infighting over ideological purity, MAGA remains a movement built around one man. That's why Trump is confident he can bend the base long before it breaks.

Comments

World news

Trump's pledge not to plunge U.S. into war questioned over his support for Israel's strikes on Iran

washington times

Comments

Similar News

Donald Trump's backing of Israel's attacks on Tehran ignites brutal MAGA war in US

Trump's pledge not to plunge U.S. into war questioned over his support for Israel's strikes on Iran

JD Vance ‘sets record straight’ on Iran as he launches defence of ‘my friend’ Donald Trump

Iran 'running out of missiles' as Donald Trump calls for 'unconditional surrender'

By dragging the US into Iran, Trump risks giving Tehran the final showdown it wants

‘These are the most magnificent poles made’: As Middle East rages, Trump brags about new flag poles at the White House

Iran threatens US with ‘irreparable damage’ if Trump joins war

Trump is about to plunge America into another forever war

The one thing the Trump administration got very right

Khamenei to Trump: Iran will not surrender

Deep sea fisherman reels in orange crab that 'looks exactly like Donald Trump'

Trump weighs joining Iran strikes after calling for 'unconditional surrender'

Iran warns of 'irreparable consequences' as Trump weighs U.S. role in conflict

In a defiant address, Iran’s supreme leader rejects Trump’s call to surrender.

Women more worried about economy under Trump than men, poll finds

Trump demands Tehran’s ‘unconditional surrender’ as Israel continues pounding Iran with airstrikes | First Thing

Trump intensifies rhetoric toward Iran. And, U.S. street drug deaths rise

The Trump Crackdown on Elected Officials

Iran's leader Khamenei lashes out at Trump's surrender demand - 'Ridiculous!'

WW3 fears erupt as Iran issues chilling 2-word response to Trump's surrender demands

World news

Trump's pledge not to plunge U.S. into war questioned over his support for Israel's strikes on Iran

U.K. lawmakers vote to decriminalize abortion, aiming to end prosecutions under 19th-century law

JD Vance ‘sets record straight’ on Iran as he launches defence of ‘my friend’ Donald Trump

Every reason Israel's strikes on Iran were justified and Keir Starmer is blurring lines

The world's most visited museum forced to close due to 'too many tourists'

Tourists in Cyprus relax on balcony but then spot something terrifying in sky

The world’s hottest country - where this week’s 30C UK heatwave would be nothing special

Iran 'running out of missiles' as Donald Trump calls for 'unconditional surrender'

OutKick co-founder tells Rep. Ilhan Omar to ‘go back to Somalia’ in Hannity interview

‘These are the most magnificent poles made’: As Middle East rages, Trump brags about new flag poles at the White House

Diddy trial live: ‘Drug mule’ Brendan Paul expected to testify after jury shown more ‘freak off’ footage

By dragging the US into Iran, Trump risks giving Tehran the final showdown it wants

Iran’s leader warns US that strikes will ‘result in irreparable damage for them’

Pushers cast: Everyone starring in Rosie Jones’ Channel 4 comedy

Gleeful leftists cheering attacks on Israel don’t understand the true horror

I had an abortion – I no longer feel like a criminal

Person dies from rabies in Yorkshire after contact with dog in Morocco

How many people will be hit by PIP cuts – and how much will they lose?

British & Irish Lions team to face Argentina in full

Trump is about to plunge America into another forever war

Straight guys are “bad” at gossip. Maybe they should learn.

The one thing the Trump administration got very right

UAE says navigational error caused oil tankers to collide near Strait of Hormuz

Khamenei to Trump: Iran will not surrender

Health care, citizenship and LGBTQ+ rights: Five Supreme Court cases to watch

Brit shot dead outside Mexican supermarket 'in wrong place at the wrong time'

Tourists issued major advice after Brit dies from rabies after holiday dog bite

Deep sea fisherman reels in orange crab that 'looks exactly like Donald Trump'

Furious Kim Jong-Un 'edits officials out of photos' after warship humiliation

Summer travel packing essentials for fun in the sun

U.S. Fed likely to hold interest rate steady, but are cuts still coming?

Best travel totes for all your essentials (and then some)

Kraft, General Mills set to remove artificial dyes from U.S. products

12 top road trip essentials you need now

POLL: Should America join Israel’s war with Iran?

Heartbreaking moment Air India crash only survivor carries brother's coffin at funeral

Keir Starmer must be recalled – Iran faces anarchy unless West backs these 11 proposals

Elon Musk calls Grok answer a ‘major fail’ after it highlights political violence caused by MAGA supporters

How US and Israeli intelligence assessments of Iran’s nuclear capabilities differ

More than 46,000 people observed in a study took their coffee black. Here's what happened to them

British Air India survivor helping to carry his brother’s coffin

I breakfast in bed every morning – it’s a game changer

Norfolk’s Nimby seals vs Labour: Thousands of animals threatened by planning laws

I’m a Briton stuck in Israel – UK government has abandoned us in bomb shelters

Operation Ayatollah: Iran’s cornered leader and how he hopes to survive

Eight carbs dietitians swear by – including sourdough and sweet potatoes

UK growth hit by ‘double blow’ of Labour pay roll taxes and US tariffs

I predict big things for joyous new musical Lovestuck

Why Putin could be a major loser from war in Iran

This veteran health official watched Americans lose trust in science. How do we get it back?

Iran’s leader rejects call to surrender, warns against U.S. involvement

N.S. woman who spent 16 days in ‘dry cell’ confinement settles civil lawsuit

Indigenous Wellness Centre opens at Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital

U.K. Parliament bans women from being prosecuted for late-term abortion

Iran Urges Users to Delete WhatsApp

The Dark Side of China’s Gold Frenzy

Live Updates: Iran’s Supreme Leader Threatens ‘Irreparable Damage’ if U.S. Joins War