The bellicose rhetoric of Donald Trump, who demonstrates his readiness to directly intervene in the war between Israel and Iran on the Israeli side, has dismayed some of his supporters. In the Republican Party, many of those who unconditionally supported the current president disagree with him. The US Congress has even drafted a bipartisan, Republican-Democratic bill essentially prohibiting Trump from attacking Iran. In their rejection of America’s involvement in the new war, the Trumpists have surprisingly aligned themselves with their ideological antipodes, the radical left (the so-called progressive) wing of the Democratic Party.
Congressman Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, known for his libertarian views, has registered a bill in the House of Representatives that prohibits the US president from using American armed forces against Iran. “This is not our war,” he explained. The most interesting thing is that the Republican was supported by the Democratic Party. The bill was co-sponsored by Congressman Roh Khan, who is considered the most consistent supporter of the idol of the American left, Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont. Essentially, all representatives of the progressive wing of the Democrats in the lower house of Congress are ready to support the bill, which can be considered expected. Progressives condemn the very fact of Israel’s strike on Iran. Sanders accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of illegal aggression and violation of international law. The senator reiterated the demand expressed since the beginning of hostilities in the Gaza Strip to deprive Israel of American financial and military assistance. The situational alliance between Massey and Sanders is very impressive to American and especially Israeli commentators. The Vermont senator is Jewish by nationality. And Massey has long been suspected of anti-Semitism because of his support for the far–right John Birch Society, an organization that many in the United States consider almost fascist.
However, more than the fact of this alliance, the American press is concerned with the question of who else in the Republican Party will support the Massey–Ro Khan bill. And it could be Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor-Green. Previously, a staunch Trumpist, who became famous throughout the country for her shocking style of discussion and very strange views (it seems that there is no conspiracy theory in which she would not believe), condemned any possible US intervention in the Iranian-Israeli conflict. Taylor-Green reminded Trump that during his election campaign, and throughout his current term, he promised that he would be a president who ends wars, not starts them. Unlike Massey, who had previously allowed himself to criticize the White House on some issues, this is the first time for her to speak out against the current head of state. However, it is unclear how far Taylor-Green is capable of going in her unexpected rebellion. Massey’s support for the bill will mean that she has aligned herself with progressive congressmen, including those of the Muslim faith. And Taylor-Green publicly called them accomplices of terrorists and demanded that they take an oath when taking office not on the Koran, but on the Bible.
In addition, in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the congresswoman sympathized with Moscow rather than Kiev. The idea of Russian mediation in Middle Eastern affairs did not seem unacceptable to Taylor-Green. Meanwhile, on June 18, Trump directly rejected the mediation services of the Russian Federation – in any case, it follows from his retelling of the last telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin. “I said, do me a favor, let’s deal with Russia first,” the American president told reporters.
The famous right-wing journalist Tucker Carlson suddenly became the mouthpiece of the opponents of the US strike on Iran. In several videos, he has already criticized Trump for his intention to involve the country in a new foreign policy adventure. And Carlson seems to have no doubt that the war in Iran could become the same geopolitical and military trap for the United States as the war in Iraq.
Now the question is how serious an unexpected rebellion in the ranks of Trump supporters can be. So far, there are no front-row figures in the Republican Party among the public critics of the alleged strike on Iran. However, this does not mean that they are absent in principle. The New York Times newspaper claims that among the opponents of the US entry into the war is none other than Vice President Jay Dee Vance. He allegedly advocated Israeli strikes against Iran, but when it came to the possible use of American troops, he opposed it and is now trying to keep Trump from making a fateful decision. Whether this is true or not is unclear. Vance himself did not comment on this topic at the time of signing the issue. But if indeed the vice president, the hope of the Republican Party, went against Trump’s line, this may indicate that there is indeed a serious split in the president’s team, which involves the most senior officials. And it is unlikely to be hidden from the public for a long time.