Right-Wing Thinker Sees Iran War as End of Trumpism

Christopher Caldwell argues the attack on Iran is 'wildly inconsistent' with Trump's base, signaling the demise of his political project.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 9:03am

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Christopher Caldwell, a contributing editor at the Claremont Review of Books, believes the Trump administration's attack on Iran marks the end of Trumpism as a political project. Caldwell argues that Trumpism, which he defines as a governing agenda focused on issues like inequality, free speech, and cultural battles, is now at odds with Trump's own base due to the unpopular Iran war. However, many of Trump's core supporters continue to back him, raising questions about the durability of Trumpism beyond the former president.

Why it matters

Caldwell's assessment of Trumpism's demise comes as Trump's approval ratings have remained relatively stable, despite the controversial Iran conflict. This raises questions about whether Trumpism is truly unraveling or if it maintains a resilient base of support, even as Trump pursues policies that clash with the wishes of his own supporters.

The details

In a recent essay, Caldwell wrote that the 'attack on Iran is so wildly inconsistent with the wishes of his own base, so diametrically opposed to their reading of the national interest, that it is likely to mark the end of Trumpism as a project.' Caldwell sees Trumpism as a governing agenda focused on issues like inequality, free speech, and cultural battles - not just the hardcore MAGA base. He argues that Trump's decision to enter the Iran conflict violates a key promise to his supporters to avoid new foreign wars.

  • In a recent essay published in The Spectator Magazine, Caldwell wrote about the potential end of Trumpism.

The players

Christopher Caldwell

A contributing editor at the Claremont Review of Books and a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, Caldwell has written extensively about right-wing populism in Europe and the United States.

Donald Trump

The former president whose political movement, known as Trumpism, Caldwell believes may be coming to an end due to Trump's decision to attack Iran.

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What they’re saying

“The attack on Iran is so wildly inconsistent with the wishes of his own base, so diametrically opposed to their reading of the national interest, that it is likely to mark the end of Trumpism as a project.”

— Christopher Caldwell, Contributing Editor, Claremont Review of Books

The takeaway

Caldwell's assessment highlights the tensions within Trumpism, as the former president pursues policies that may alienate his core supporters. The durability of Trumpism beyond Trump himself remains an open question, as the movement grapples with internal divisions and the political fallout from the Iran conflict.