Trump’s ‘America First’ coalition balks at strikes against Iran
Is this competence or optics?
President Donald Trump‘s decision to align with Israel in targeting Iran’s regime, including strikes that U.S. and Israeli officials say killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials, has exposed tensions inside his “Make America Great Again” coalition that propelled him back into office.
Trump signaled Monday that the U.S. military campaign against Iran could stretch “four to five weeks,” warning that more U.S. casualties may be ahead as the conflict deepens, remarks that are testing the limits of the “America First” movement that helped power his presidency.
Speaking ahead of a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House on Monday, Trump said the United States had the capability to continue operations far longer if necessary.
“I don’t get bored,” Trump said. “There’s nothing boring about this.”
His comments come as six U.S. service members have died following the launch of Operation Epic Fury, marking the first U.S. combat deaths of his second term.
“Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends,” Trump said in a weekend video message pledging to limit troop deaths. “That’s the way it is.”
But the prospect of a multiweek campaign and rising casualties is forcing a reckoning inside the MAGA coalition, many of whom rallied behind his 2016 promise to avoid prolonged Middle East wars and nation-building efforts overseas.
The White House is pushing back forcefully against the idea that the operation contradicts Trump’s America First doctrine.
“President Trump’s courageous decision to launch Operation Epic Fury is grounded in a truth that presidents for nearly 50 years have been talking about, but no president had the courage to confront: Iran poses a direct and imminent threat to the United States of America and our troops in the Middle East,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement provided to the Washington Examiner.
“The rogue Iranian Regime under the evil hand of the Ayatollah has killed and maimed thousands of American citizens and soldiers over the years — and that ends with President Trump,” she added.
Blackwater founder Erik Prince said he was disappointed by the strikes, warning they could unleash chaos and questioning whether they served the public’s interests.
“I don’t see how this is in keeping with the president’s MAGA commitment. I’m disappointed,” Prince said during an appearance on Steve Bannon’s WarRoom podcast on March 1.
A defining theme of Trump’s first campaign was opposition to …
Is this competence or optics?
President Donald Trump‘s decision to align with Israel in targeting Iran’s regime, including strikes that U.S. and Israeli officials say killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials, has exposed tensions inside his “Make America Great Again” coalition that propelled him back into office.
Trump signaled Monday that the U.S. military campaign against Iran could stretch “four to five weeks,” warning that more U.S. casualties may be ahead as the conflict deepens, remarks that are testing the limits of the “America First” movement that helped power his presidency.
Speaking ahead of a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House on Monday, Trump said the United States had the capability to continue operations far longer if necessary.
“I don’t get bored,” Trump said. “There’s nothing boring about this.”
His comments come as six U.S. service members have died following the launch of Operation Epic Fury, marking the first U.S. combat deaths of his second term.
“Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends,” Trump said in a weekend video message pledging to limit troop deaths. “That’s the way it is.”
But the prospect of a multiweek campaign and rising casualties is forcing a reckoning inside the MAGA coalition, many of whom rallied behind his 2016 promise to avoid prolonged Middle East wars and nation-building efforts overseas.
The White House is pushing back forcefully against the idea that the operation contradicts Trump’s America First doctrine.
“President Trump’s courageous decision to launch Operation Epic Fury is grounded in a truth that presidents for nearly 50 years have been talking about, but no president had the courage to confront: Iran poses a direct and imminent threat to the United States of America and our troops in the Middle East,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement provided to the Washington Examiner.
“The rogue Iranian Regime under the evil hand of the Ayatollah has killed and maimed thousands of American citizens and soldiers over the years — and that ends with President Trump,” she added.
Blackwater founder Erik Prince said he was disappointed by the strikes, warning they could unleash chaos and questioning whether they served the public’s interests.
“I don’t see how this is in keeping with the president’s MAGA commitment. I’m disappointed,” Prince said during an appearance on Steve Bannon’s WarRoom podcast on March 1.
A defining theme of Trump’s first campaign was opposition to …
Trump’s ‘America First’ coalition balks at strikes against Iran
Is this competence or optics?
President Donald Trump‘s decision to align with Israel in targeting Iran’s regime, including strikes that U.S. and Israeli officials say killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials, has exposed tensions inside his “Make America Great Again” coalition that propelled him back into office.
Trump signaled Monday that the U.S. military campaign against Iran could stretch “four to five weeks,” warning that more U.S. casualties may be ahead as the conflict deepens, remarks that are testing the limits of the “America First” movement that helped power his presidency.
Speaking ahead of a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House on Monday, Trump said the United States had the capability to continue operations far longer if necessary.
“I don’t get bored,” Trump said. “There’s nothing boring about this.”
His comments come as six U.S. service members have died following the launch of Operation Epic Fury, marking the first U.S. combat deaths of his second term.
“Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends,” Trump said in a weekend video message pledging to limit troop deaths. “That’s the way it is.”
But the prospect of a multiweek campaign and rising casualties is forcing a reckoning inside the MAGA coalition, many of whom rallied behind his 2016 promise to avoid prolonged Middle East wars and nation-building efforts overseas.
The White House is pushing back forcefully against the idea that the operation contradicts Trump’s America First doctrine.
“President Trump’s courageous decision to launch Operation Epic Fury is grounded in a truth that presidents for nearly 50 years have been talking about, but no president had the courage to confront: Iran poses a direct and imminent threat to the United States of America and our troops in the Middle East,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement provided to the Washington Examiner.
“The rogue Iranian Regime under the evil hand of the Ayatollah has killed and maimed thousands of American citizens and soldiers over the years — and that ends with President Trump,” she added.
Blackwater founder Erik Prince said he was disappointed by the strikes, warning they could unleash chaos and questioning whether they served the public’s interests.
“I don’t see how this is in keeping with the president’s MAGA commitment. I’m disappointed,” Prince said during an appearance on Steve Bannon’s WarRoom podcast on March 1.
A defining theme of Trump’s first campaign was opposition to …
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