6 key allies splitting with Trump over possible Iran strike in support of Israel as war debate heats up

WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump will decide on the United States' involvement in Israel's conflict with Iran within the next two weeks, but some of his allies are splitting with the POTUS over the decision to strike Iran.

The president seemed to be in a dilemma on Wednesday, June 18, when he said, "I may do it, I may not do it", casting a shadow of doubt on whether the US would join the conflict by targeting Iranian nuclear sites.

The possibility that Trump might strike Iran has led key allies to split with him over the decision. Let us take a look at six of them who are opposing the Iran strike.

1. Tulsi Gabbard

Trump's Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, is among those who have expressed doubt about Iran's nuclear plans. She testified in March before Congress that while Iran's enriched uranium was at an all-time high, experts did not believe it was working on a nuclear weapon, according to the BBC.

On June 10, Gabbard posted a video where she warned that "political elite and warmongers" were "carelessly fomenting fear and tensions" that risked putting the world "on the brink of nuclear annihilation", per the outlet.

Interestingly, her video and earlier comments reportedly created a rift between her and Trump, who "became incensed" at the video, Politico reported.

Trump told reporters when asked about her comments before Congress, "I don't care what she said. I think they were very close to having a weapon."

Moreover, Gabbard later accused the media of taking her comments out of context, and told CNN that she was on "the same page" as Trump.

2. Thomas Massie

Gabbard is not the only Republican who has criticized potential US involvement in the conflict.

Republican congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky sided with Democrats on Tuesday, June 17, to introduce a bill that would block Trump from engaging US forces in "unauthorized hostilities" with Iran without congressional approval, per BBC.

Moreover, Massie also posted on X, "This is not our war. Even if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution."

Massie has since been joined by 15 other members of the House of Representatives, all Democrats, per Salon. 

3. Tucker Carlson

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson called for the US to stay out of the conflict with Iran during his podcast. He lambasted Republican "warmongers", provoking a rebuke from Trump, who called Carlson "kooky", according to BBC.

Interestingly, Trump on Wednesday revealed that Carlson had phoned him to apologize. Moreover, Trump called Carlson a "nice guy" and said he appreciated the apology. 

Meanwhile, on Tuesday during an interview between Carlson and Ted Cruz, the senator became defensive when asked if he knew the population and ethnic mix of Iran.

The tension rose when Carlson said, "You're a senator who's calling for the overthrow of the government and you don't know anything about the country!" as Cruz responded, "No, you don't know anything about the country!"

4. Marjorie Taylor Greene

Georgia congresswoman and Trump loyalist Marjorie Taylor Greene came to Carlson's defence in an unusual break with the POTUS.

Greene said anyone who supported such an intervention was not "America First", per the outlet.

She wrote on X, "Anyone slobbering for the U.S. to become fully involved in the Israel/Iran war is not America First/MAGA."

Moreover, Greene added that Americans are “sick and tired of foreign wars” and want troops focused on protecting US borders.

5. Steve Bannon

Trump's former political strategist, Steve Bannon, argued on Tucker Carlson's podcast that allowing the "deep state" to drive the US into a war with Iran would "blow up" the coalition of Trump supporters, BBC reported.

He said, "If we get sucked into this war, which inexorably looks like it's going to happen on the combat side, it's going to not just blow up the coalition, it's also going to thwart the most important thing, which is the deportation of the illegal alien invaders who are here."

However, on Wednesday, Bannon slightly softened his tone, and told attendees at a Christian Science Monitor event that the MAGA wing of Trump supporters would trust his judgement if he decided to commit US forces to the conflict, per the outlet.

He said, "Maybe we hate it but you know, we'll get on board."

6. Charlie Kirk

Conservative political commentator Charlie Kirk has generally been supportive of Trump, as he said in a recent interview with Fox News that "this is the moment that President Trump was elected for".

However, he has also warned of a potential MAGA divide over Iran since last week.

He wrote on X, "No issue currently divides the right as much as foreign policy. I’m very concerned based on every I’ve seen in the grassroots the last few months that this will cause a massive schism in MAGA and potentially disrupt our momentum and our insanely successful Presidency."

Moreover, Kirk recently said, "Trump voters, especially young people, supported President Trump because he was the first president in my lifetime to not start a new war."

He also mentioned, "There is historically little support for America to be actively engaged in yet another offensive war in the Middle East. We must work for and pray for peace."