MAGA rages against 'neocon' Trump for betraying 'America First' agenda

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump points a finger as he welcomes Argentina's President Javier Milei at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 14, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

When Donald Trump launched his 2016 presidential campaign, his "America First" views on foreign policy were greatly influenced by paleoconservative Patrick Buchanan and were a major departure from the hawkish conservativism of GOP Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. And Buchanan himself praised Trump in his columns for Antiwar.com, a paleoconservative site known for its scathing criticism of neocons.

But in recent weeks, some of Trump's MAGA allies have been questioning his foreign policy moves in South America — including a massive $20 billion bailout for Argentina and military strikes against Venezuelan boats that he claims are transporting illegal drugs bound for the United States.

"War Room" host Steve Bannon wondered if Trump is making Venezuela a "breeding ground for neocon 3.0," and the New York Times quoted MAGA conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer as saying, "There’s supposed to be incentives for ending wars and conflicts around the world. Yet, here we have this conflict with Venezuela that is only going to escalate."

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) recently told Axios, "It's a revolving door at the White House of foreign leaders, when Americans are, you know, screaming from their lungs. If me saying those things are considered breaking with my party, then what is the Republican Party? I thought we were America First?"

In an article published on October 24, NOTUS reporters Jasmine Wright and Violet Jira emphasize that Trump is prioritizing foreign policy while the United States' federal government remains partially shut down "with no sign of resolution."

Wright and Jira report, "The president's weeklong trip (to Asia) is focused on trade deals and peace deals, the White House says. It comes during a foreign-policy-heavy swing for the president — one that some in his political movement are calling out as a departure from MAGA's 'America First' mantra."

A Trump White House official, interviewed on condition of anonymity, told NOTUS that the "Trump doctrine" and "America First" don't mean "isolationism."

"What exactly the Trump doctrine is appears to be more elusive," Wright and Jira explain. "NOTUS asked more than a dozen Republican lawmakers, current and former administration officials and experts how they would characterize Trump's foreign policy program. Few were able to pin it down, though some expressed skepticism about its direction."

A Trump ally, quoted anonymously, told NOTUS, "I think the only misalignment that anyone would really point to is Argentina. A lot of people have faith in the president. So I don't think that Argentina is a deal-breaker for anyone. I think that people are frustrated by it."

MAGA Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) told NOTUS, "There’s some things I like. There’s some things I’m less enthused about. But, you know, let’s see where he gets to his issues. I've never been a big fan of bailouts. I will tell you what I'd like to do when it comes to payments to people. I'd like to start with American farmers. I think that farmers in my state and probably around the country, who are being retaliated against by our erstwhile trading partners, could use some support."

Read the full NOTUS article at this link.

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