Middle East Crisis Reactions

The President's Followers: "He Lied About Everything"

Donald Trump's support within parts of the Maga movement has begun to falter in step with the war in Iran. The shift became clear during the conservative CPAC conference in Texas on Friday, reports Politico.

At the conference, a clear rift was noticeable between those who support the war and those who oppose it. Some participants wore Iranian flags, while others wore caps with "America First" and argued for a more anti-interventionist line.

- He lied about everything. If you go into a war without an end goal, how will it end, says 30-year-old war veteran Joseph Bolick, who voted for Trump in 2024, to Politico.

He is part of a group of younger Maga loyalists who have become increasingly frustrated with the war in Iran.

A Politico poll in March shows that a large portion of Maga Republicans still support the war. But it differs between age groups. While 70 percent of those over 35 believe that Trump has a goal with the war, the corresponding figure is 49 percent among those under 35.

66 percent of older people also say that they are prepared to sacrifice American lives in the war, compared to less than half among younger people. 

Task: Trump's many twists and turns are worrying internally

Donald Trump's conflicting signals about the Iran war are worrying Republicans and other allies of the president, sources tell CNN.

In recent days, Trump has both emphasized the importance of peace and threatened more military force, which according to the information has caused both politicians and advisers to question the White House's plan. The fact that the president now seems to have raised the threat level raises concerns that the situation will become even more unpredictable if the threats now have no effect.

- Everyone is worried about getting caught in a protracted war in the Middle East, says a source close to Trump.