Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
Amid indications that the US may get involved in the rapidly escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, there’s a growing rift within the Republican Party over the role the United States should play in the unfolding conflict.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, Trump has publicly stated that he may join Israel in striking Iran, with some indications that the US would assist Israel in targeting Iran’s heavily fortified Fordo nuclear facility. Amid all of this, a shitload of strategic military aircraft have moved out of the US and towards the Middle East, a move many say are clear signs of something to come in the Middle East. Even with these indications, there are also efforts to prevent war through diplomatic backchannels in Oman, where intermediaries have been reportedly facilitating indirect dialogue between US and Iranian officials. Despite this, Iran has warned that any US military involvement would result in “all-out war.”
What’s going on now: New polling has indicated a sharp divide within the Republican Party over potential US involvement in the escalating Israel-Iran conflict, reflecting the broader tension between the GOP’s traditional hawkish wing and the ascendant isolationist “America First” faction. A YouGov poll released yesterday found that only 23% of Republicans say the US should be involved in the conflict between Iran and Israel. Influential figures like Senators Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz have strongly advocated for US action to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, arguing that the national security risks are too high not to act.
On the other side, key voices in the pro-Trump populist wing have pushed back hard against the idea of intervention. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene warned that military involvement would betray Trump’s “America First” promises, arguing that supporting foreign wars is incompatible with MAGA principles. Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has used his platform to criticize GOP “warmongers,” insisting that dragging the US into the conflict would be a catastrophic mistake. Steve Bannon warned it could “blow up” the MAGA movement entirely.
Democrats, meanwhile, are also divided but largely less influential in shaping immediate Republican discourse. Some Democratic leaders, like Senators Chuck Schumer and Jackie Rosen, have expressed strong support for Israel’s right to defend itself. Others, particularly from the progressive wing, have cautioned against escalating the conflict and called for diplomatic de-escalation.
