Marjorie Taylor Greene blasts Iran strikes as Trump betraying America First: ‘It’s always a lie and it’s always America Last’

President , whose strong criticism of overseas military interventions powered his improbable ascent to the leadership of the Republican Party, now faces the risk of being trapped in exactly that kind of conflict.

Saturday’s U.S. and Israeli strike on Iran solidified Trump’s ten-year evolution from a 2016 candidate who labeled the a “big, fat mistake” into a president now cautioning Americans about possible overseas casualties and urging Iranians to “take charge of your future.” The military action also contradicted Trump’s 2024 campaign warnings that his Democratic opponent, , was encircled by “war hawks” determined to deploy troops abroad.

Trump defended the operation as essential to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear arms or creating missiles that could strike the US, even though less than a year ago he claimed airstrikes had “obliterated” their capacity. US intelligence agencies have also stated that Iran’s weapons potential was significantly diminished.

For Trump, recollections of the Iraq War’s false justifications may create pressure to substantiate his claim that Iran’s weapons manufacturing represented an immediate danger to Americans. For Republicans confronting a difficult election year burdened by economic worries, this change might compel them to reconsider how these strikes align with the “America First,” isolationist-oriented movement the party has adopted during Trump’s presidency.

Although Trump could gain from an initial rally-around-the-flag boost, maintaining that support for weeks or months—if not longer—could prove difficult, presenting a very different situation from the rapid operation to oust Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela earlier this year.

Achieving success on day one is one matter. The subsequent days are inherently uncertain.

“The issue is whether Iran’s objective is merely to outlast America and whether Trump suffers from strategic attention deficit disorder, which would enable the Iranians to recover and declare victory,” stated Michael Rubin, a historian at the American Enterprise Institute who served as a Pentagon staff advisor on Iran and Iraq from 2002 to 2004.

Many Republicans get behind Trump

Numerous Republicans rapidly rallied behind the president, among them Texas Sen. and state attorney general , both locked in a tight Senate primary contest on Tuesday.

“Hopefully no lives will be needlessly lost, but this always involves risk,” Cornyn stated Saturday at a campaign event near Houston. “But we recognize that Iran won’t cease unless the United States and our allies halt them.”

Other lawmakers, such as Sen. of Indiana, commended the military and condemned Iran while observing that Americans will have inquiries that “need to be addressed.”

There was also clear opposition from some who have consistently criticized foreign interventions, including Sen. , the Kentucky Republican, who expressed regret over the beginning of “another preemptive war.” Former Rep. , the Georgia Republican and former close Trump ally, dismissed the president’s warnings about Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

“It’s always a lie and it’s always America Last,” she posted online. “But this time it feels like the ultimate betrayal because it originates from the very man and administration we all thought was different.”

Little advance preparation for Americans

The administration made minimal effort beforehand to ready Americans for such a dramatic move.

Vice President informed The Washington Post this week that there was “no chance” the US would get drawn into a prolonged war like it did in Iraq. In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Trump devoted only a few sentences to Iran, contending that the nation and its proxies have “spread nothing but terrorism, death and hate.”

This presents a sharp contrast to the extended buildup to the Iraq War.

President , for instance, designated Iraq as part of the so-called axis of evil in January 2002. Then-Secretary of State Colin Powell gave a now-notorious address to the United Nations in February 2003, arguing for war based on the false claim that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. The invasion, which eventually consumed Bush’s second term, didn’t commence until March 2003.

“We simply must acknowledge that there’s a feeling this wasn’t adequately presented to the American public,” Andrew Kolvet commented Saturday on “The Charlie Kirk Show,” an internet broadcast created by the deceased conservative activist who had close ties to Trump. “Maybe there will be a chance to address this afterward.”

Kolvet was prepared, however, to grant Trump some flexibility, observing that these are the kinds of difficult decisions presidents are charged with making.

“President Trump has earned considerable latitude,” he stated. “Not unlimited freedom. But a very extensive one to make difficult choices.”

Survey data indicates that numerous Americans share Trump’s worries about Iran’s nuclear capabilities, even if they have less faith in the president’s response. Approximately half of American adults were “extremely” or “very” worried that Iran’s nuclear program represents a direct threat to the US, according to a survey this month from .

A majority of Americans, 61%, identified Iran as an “enemy” of the US, a slight increase from a performed in September 2023. However, their confidence in the president’s judgment regarding dealings with adversaries and deploying military force overseas is low, the new survey reveals, with only about three in ten Americans reporting they have “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of trust in Trump.

Democrats sense an opening

Democrats perceive a political opportunity on this matter. In Maine, Gov. Janet Mills and Graham Platner are vying for the Democratic nomination to face incumbent Sen. Susan Collins this fall. Both released statements Saturday urging Collins, the sole Republican on the ballot this year in a state carried by Harris, to increase her supervision of the administration.

Collins was among three Senate Republicans who supported an last month for a war powers measure that would have restricted Trump’s capacity to carry out additional strikes on Venezuela. they would promptly pursue a vote on a comparable proposal concerning Iran.

“If we’ve initiated a war in which we start losing American lives, that begins to alter the political equation,” commented Republican strategist Ron Bonjean.

But he pointed out that Democrats have their own weaknesses, especially if a domestic terrorist attack occurs while the Department of Homeland Security is shut down as they push for modifications to immigration enforcement procedures.

For the moment, Trump isn’t providing much detail about his strategy going forward. In a Saturday evening social media post, he indicated that bombings might persist “as long as necessary.”

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Associated Press journalist Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed to this article.