Israel and the United States have launched military attacks against Iran.
But some conservatives remain deeply unhappy with the move, including those who have historically defended Trump.
”48 leaders are gone in one shot”
Divisions are widening within president Donald Trump’s political base following reports of U.S. involvement in missile strikes against Iran.
The United States and Israel carried out coordinated attacks on February 28, targeting Iranian positions in Tehran. The strikes resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In an interview with Fox News, Donald Trump said that U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have now killed dozens of senior Iranian officials, claiming the military campaign is making rapid progress.
“It’s moving along. It’s moving along rapidly. This has been this way for 47 years,” he said, adding: “Nobody can believe the success we’re having, 48 leaders are gone in one shot.”
Iran quickly responded with missile and drone operations aimed at U.S. military installations across the Gulf, including bases near Bahrain, Qatar, and Dubai.
Three U.S. service members have been killed in action and five others seriously wounded during the military operation against Iran, the U.S. Central Command said in a Sunday statement.
Tucker Carlson is not happy
And some of Trump’s most recognizable allies have turned sharply against him. Independent journalist Tucker Carlson, who previously defended Trump throughout his tenure at Fox News, condemned the strikes in unusually harsh terms.
Speaking with Jon Karl, Carlson described Trump’s actions as “absolutely disgusting and evil,” revealing that he had personally urged Trump not to authorize the strike during a recent Oval Office meeting.
Other conservatives echoed that criticism. Former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene issued a statement denouncing continued U.S. military intervention abroad.
“Thousands and thousands of Americans from my generation have been killed and injured in never ending pointless foreign wars and we said no more. But we are freeing the Iranian people. Please.”
She added: “There are 93 million people in Iran, let them liberate themselves. But Iran is on the verge of having nuclear weapons. Yeah, sure.”
Republican Senator Rand Paul also objected, arguing that military action without congressional approval undermines the Constitution.
“The Constitution conferred the power to declare or initiate war to Congress for a reason, to make war less likely… As with all war, my first and purest instinct is wish Americans soldiers safety and success in their mission. But my oath of office is to the Constitution, so with studied care, I must oppose another Presidential war.”
Conservative commentator Matt Walsh of The Daily Wire similarly warned against framing the conflict as a humanitarian mission.
“As always I only support military action anywhere, in any context, if it directly serves the interests of American citizens,” he said. “It’s troubling that the arguments we’re hearing for this war in Iran, including from Trump himself, seem to revolve primarily around ‘bringing freedom to the Iranian people.’ As Americans, the freedom of Iranians is not our responsibility. If a single American life is lost in the service of that goal, it will be a travesty.”
Trump’s new warning
The latest strikes follow earlier U.S. attacks last June, when American forces reportedly hit three Iranian nuclear facilities — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — shortly after Israeli operations targeted Iran’s military infrastructure.
Trump warned on Sunday that U.S. combat operations in Iran were ongoing and would continue “until all of our objectives are achieved.”
He defended the military campaign by arguing that “an Iranian regime armed with long range missiles and nuclear weapons would be a dire threat to every American …” before issuing a direct warning to Iran’s security forces.
“I once again urge the Revolutionary Guard, the Iranian military police, to lay down your arms and receive full immunity or face certain death.”
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