Some of Donald Trump’s closest allies are becoming confused following his muddled justification over starting the current war in the Middle East. A total of six US soldiers have died as a result of the conflict so far, as well as hundreds of Iranians.
The US President has offered various explanations as to why the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Friday (February 27). The war has since escalated, destabilising oil markets and bringing the Strait of Hormuz to a standstill. While Trump continues to cite varying reasons for launching the attack, it has emerged that some members of his MAGA constituency are becoming worried.
As reported by the Financial Times, the president has given a number of reasons for the attack, including regime change in Iran, stopping Tehran’s nuclear weapon programme, helping protesters, and retribution for the death of US soldiers. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, also told reporters in Congress on Monday (March 2) that the US knew Israel was going to attack Iran which would have led to inevitable retribution against his nation.
The attack, which is quickly escalating into a wider regional conflict, is the US and Israel’s second on Iran in eight months. It has led to concerns among some of Trump’s allies and members of the MAGA constituency.
Erik Prince, who founded the Blackwater private security firm during the Iraq war, said on Steve Bannon’s podcast that the conflict was « going to uncork a significant can of worms and chaos and destruction in Iran now. Who takes over? » He also told the former Trump aide: « I don’t see how this is in keeping with the president’s Maga commitment. »
Meanwhile, MAGA influencer Matt Walsh said on X: « So far we’ve heard that although we killed the whole Iranian regime, this was not a regime change war. And although we obliterated their nuclear program, we had to do this because of their nuclear program. And although Iran was not planning any attacks on the US, they also might have been. »
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Following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday (March 1), Trump said the bombing on Iran would continue « throughout the week ». However, he then said on Monday that it would continue much longer.
He said: « Right from the beginning, we projected four to five weeks, but we have capability to go far longer than that. We haven’t even started hitting them hard. »
Trump went on to say that the US intended to stop Iran from supporting « terrorist proxy groups abroad ». He has also urged Iranians to « take over your government », while accusing the nation of having « waged war against civilisation itself ».
Jake Auchincloss, a Democratic congressman, told the Financial Times that Trump had given « four different rationales for the war in the last 72 hours ». In addition, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told NBC: « That’s not our job, to pick the next Iranian government. It’s not my job, it’s not President Trump’s job. »
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