U.S. President Donald Trump speaking earlier this week. (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)
President Donald Trump’s hold over his MAGA supporters has truly slipped for the first time, contends Senior Editor Alex Shephard in the New Republic. And a prolonged conflict in the Middle East may lead to a further spiral downward.
So far, the story contends, "right-wing criticism of Trump’s war has mostly come from familiar MAGA cranks like Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson. But it could quickly spiral out of control."
"If it does drag on, it will become even less popular, including among Republicans,” Shepard writes. “Facing sustained criticism from the MAGA faithful who rightly see the war as a 'betrayal,' Trump could well spiral into unprecedented territory.”
Trump has always dealt with extreme opposition, and has a history of turning critics around. This time is different, Shephard claims. Previous bold moves — like the assassination of Iranian Quds Force leader Qasem Soleimani in 2020 or the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January — weren’t the same as an extended regional war. If Iran proves to be that, Shephard says, that will hang over the presidency.
The potential problems on the horizon are dire. Trump is now historically unpopular and facing a potential midterm massacre.
“But what happens when he is even more unpopular, overseeing a foreign war that’s out of control, and no longer has control of Congress? What happens when the subpoenas and investigations — and yes, impeachments — start? What happens if this becomes a regional war? What happens if U.S. civilians, stranded in a Gulf state, are taken hostage? What happens if U.S. ground forces start aiding one, or several, factions in an Iranian civil war?”
All of that can cause further erosion in Trump’s support.
The President claims “MAGA is Trump,” Shephard writes. “Before too long, that may be pretty much all that MAGA is.”