Trump distances himself from right-wing Iran war critics

“No impact on me” – President Trump dismisses former allies’ criticism over Iran strikes, says the MAGA movement won’t turn on the administration.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

President Donald Trump dismissed criticism from some of his erstwhile supporters on the right, downplaying the impact of their anger over his decision to launch Operation Epic Fury against the Iranian regime.

Following the beginning of the airstrikes on Saturday morning, right-wing internet influencers who in the past endorsed the president savaged his decision to strike the Islamic Republic, accusing Trump of serving Israeli interests.

“My own feeling is no one should have to die for a foreign country,” said Megyn Kelly, claiming that the conflict with Iran served only Israel and the dissident movement in Iran.

“I don’t think those four service members died for the United States. I think they died for Iran or for Israel.”

Podcaster Tucker Carlson, an ally of Trump during the 2024 presidential election, told ABC News over the weekend he believes that the strikes in Iran are “absolutely disgusting and evil.”

He later echoed Kelly’s accusations that the strikes were carried out explicitly to serve Israel’s interests.

“This happened because Israel wanted it to happen. This is Israel’s war. This is not the United States’ war.”

In an interview with Rachel Bade published on her Substack page on Tuesday, Trump said that the criticism from Kelly and Carlson would not sway his MAGA base.

“I think that MAGA is Trump – MAGA’s not the other two,” Trump said. “MAGA wants to see our country thrive and be safe. And MAGA loves what I’m doing – every aspect of it.

Carlson, Trump continued, “can say whatever he wants; it has no impact on me.”

As for Kelly, the president responded to her criticism by saying she “ought to study her history book a little bit.”

“Megyn was opposed to me for years when I ran the first time, and nothing stopped me,” Trump added.

“And so, you know, some people are against – and they always come back. She came all the way back. But now I guess she maybe doesn’t like the idea of this war, but I do because I have to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of the Iranians.”

Trump emphasized that the conflict would be brief, calling it a “detour that we have to take in order to keep our country safe and keep other countries safe.”

The president added that regardless of popular opinion, he felt compelled to order the strikes to preserve American national security.

“I have to do what’s right, number one – and you can’t have Iran getting a nuclear weapon. That’s predominant to me.”