Trump's Iran War Divides His MAGA Base

Columnist warns of rising anti-Semitism as Trump's hawkish actions strain his coalition

Mar. 19, 2026 at 10:22am

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A New York Times columnist argues that while President Trump was not manipulated by Israel into the Iran war, the conflict has exposed divisions within his MAGA base and could fuel a rise in anti-Semitism. The resignation of a top Trump official who claimed Israel influenced the president highlights the tensions, as some MAGA supporters see the war as a betrayal of Trump's 'America First' agenda.

Why it matters

The Iran war threatens to fracture Trump's political coalition ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, as some of his core supporters accuse the president of being too close to Israel and waging a conflict that doesn't serve American interests. This could undermine Trump's efforts to maintain power and challenge the results of the upcoming vote.

The details

The columnist, Michelle Goldberg, says Trump was not uniquely influenced by Israel, but has always been a hawkish, ego-driven leader eager to use military force. However, the involvement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other pro-Israel figures in pushing for the conflict has fueled anti-Semitic conspiracy theories among some Trump supporters. This could lead to a 'modern version of the stab-in-the-back myth' that blames Jews for America's 'humiliation' in the war.

  • In his first two years, Trump ordered more drone strikes than Obama did in eight years.
  • This week, Trump boasted that he can 'take' Cuba and 'do anything I want with it.'

The players

Donald Trump

The former president who launched the Iran war, driven more by his own ego and hawkish tendencies than by pressure from Israel.

Benjamin Netanyahu

The Israeli prime minister who has long advocated for military action against Iran and worked closely with Trump administration officials to push for the conflict.

Joe Kent

A former Trump official who resigned from his position as director of the National Counterterrorism Center, claiming Israel manipulated the president into the Iran war.

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What they’re saying

“Given Israel's deep involvement in almost every aspect of this war, it takes care and subtlety — both in short supply in our politics — to tease out the difference between reality and conspiracy theory.”

— Michelle Goldberg, Columnist

“If Mr. Trump is going to succeed in breaking the November election in order to stay in power, he'll have to have around him a tight, cohesive elite that really sincerely believes – for whatever set of bad reasons – that it's worth sacrificing the republic for this person.”

— Timothy Snyder, Historian

What’s next

The judge in Joe Kent's case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow him out on bail after his resignation and claims about Israel's influence on Trump.

The takeaway

The Iran war has exposed deep divisions within Trump's MAGA base, threatening to undermine his efforts to maintain power and challenge the 2026 election results. The involvement of pro-Israel figures has fueled anti-Semitic conspiracy theories that could further fracture the Republican coalition.