The Iran-Israel conflict and US involvement in it have caused outrage among the American public. This time, it is not the opposition Democrats who are speaking out against American involvement and support for Israel, but the Republicans themselves. Specifically, it is the section of the Republican Party that previously rallied around Donald Trump — the so-called MAGA-hat, i.e. people who wear caps with the slogan Make America Great Again.
Among these ardent Trump supporters, who literally turned into his opponents in a matter of days, are journalist Tucker Carlson, well known to Russian audiences, Senators Thomas Massie and Rand Paul, Trump’s key ally during his first term Steve Bannon, and, with some reservations, the head of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
A huge number of Americans who voted for Trump in the election are experiencing disappointment that is turning into anger and rage. For them, Trump is now a traitor. Since the 1980s, the Republican Party has been dominated by an ideological group of neoconservatives, or neocons for short. The neocons are responsible for the ideology of aggressive imperialism and interventionism, disguised as talk of ‘exporting democracy.’ It was their influence that was decisive during the Bush Jr. administration, when the United States invaded Afghanistan and Iraq. Neocons are also supporters of unconditional support for Israel and, in recent years, Ukraine. In particular, they include Senator Lindsey Graham, recognised as a terrorist in Russia, who is one of the main lobbyists for Kiev’s interests in the United States.
Trump promised to end the influence of neocons during his first term. His electoral base consists of American isolationists who do not want the US to support aggressive regimes, let alone participate in wars on the other side of the ocean. However, Trump is now directly violating his main campaign slogan. War with Iran is what neocons have been dreaming of since the 2000s.
The situation is exacerbated by other setbacks: the break with Elon Musk, the loss of support from part of the economically oriented electorate, and now the ideological core of MAGA. Whereas previously the threat of impeachment came only from the Democrats, now they may be joined by isolationist Republicans.
The current crisis could be a turning point in Trump’s career, demonstrating that his former rhetoric of ‘peace through strength’ has given way to the traditional interventionist policy that he himself condemned.
