Israel's significant strikes on Iran caused a rift in the GOP between the isolationist MAGA and more hawkish Republicans, according to a new report.
Israel's attack on Iran on Thursday, known as "Operation Rising Lion," has been widely regarded as a significant tactical and operational success. The strikes damaged Iran's nuclear program and decimated its military leadership. Iran has begun retaliatory strikes, though Israel has downplayed their effectiveness.
While the U.S. has maintained it played no part in assisting Israel with the attack, Axios reported Friday afternoon that MAGA world is split over the United States' role.
Want more breaking political news? Click for the latest headlines at Raw Story.
Some Hill Republicans view the past 24 hours as a battle lost for MAGA's isolationist camp," the report said, noting that top Republicans on Capitol Hill are supporting Israel's strikes. potentially U.S. involvement — despite MAGA media personalities urging against it for months. That included Tucker Carlson, who on Friday slammed former Fox colleagues , including Sean Hannity, as "warmongers."
Republicans who have applauded the strikes include Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who tweeted, Game on. Pray for Israel , and praised the operation as "one of the most impressive military strikes and covert operations in Israeli history.
He warned that if Iran "refuses" Trump's offer, "I strongly believe it is in America's national security interest to go all-in to help Israel finish the job."
Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, defended Israel's operation, saying, "We stand with Israel tonight and pray for the safety of its people and the success of this unilateral, defensive action .”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said in a statement Thursday night, "For too long, the mullahs in Iran have publicly aspired to wipe the only democracy in the Middle East off the face of the map via any means possible: funding and arming terror groups on Israel’s borders, choking off international sea lanes, and multiple barrages of missiles and drones."
President Donald J. Trump does not bluff. If the Iranians attack Americans— there will be hell to pay " wrote Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) on X.
GOP congressional staffers told Axios that the influence of MAGA isolationists on lawmakers is evident, with one chief of staff describing MAGA influencers as "in a bubble" with almost no influence on GOP lawmakers. Another said most Republicans aren't aligned with Carlson.
<failed> DEATH TO AMERICA and who openly plotted to assassinate President @realDonaldTrump never have an opportunity to have a nuke?
Meanwhile, fellow Trump ally Steve Bannon — fresh off his win to get Elon Musk booted from the White House — took a different stance.
"They should be Israel first. But we have to be America first," Bannon said on his "War Room" podcast Friday, according to the report. "The bottom line is, we cannot be inexorably dragged into a war on the Eurasian land mass or in the Middle East or in Eastern Europe."
Recommended Links:
- MAGA Republicans take unlikely stance in rebellion against House bill: columnist
- MTG faces friendly fire in MAGA dispute: 'Jewish Space Laser lady doesn't have a clue'
- Trump "made a mockery of all of us": MAGA devotees revolt over policy about-face
- Trump is 'infuriating the MAGA base' as new global war threat looms: report
0 Komentar