Don Jr opposed father Trump’s Iran war from day one, shared concerns privately: Report
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, reportedly strongly opposed his father’s decision to launch a military campaign in Iran from the very beginning and shared his views with the president, The Atlantic reports.
However, Don Jr has remained publicly silent on the matter.
According to two people who have discussed the war with Don Jr, he has privately expressed his views on the conflict more than once.
The report highlights a possible contradiction between the president’s support for the military campaign and his son’s reported anti-war stance.
Donald Trump Jr reportedly opposed Iran war
The president’s son, who has long opposed US involvement in overseas conflicts, reportedly made his position clear to his father when the war began.
"Don has kept his views on the subject private, as he would never publicly break with his dad on an issue like this, but I can’t imagine anyone who knows Don would be surprised by his personal views on the subject,” a person close to Don Jr told The Atlantic.
The magazine also highlighted a social media post Don Jr made in April 2024, during the final months of the Biden administration.
“Remember when they said Trump would get us into a full-blown war with Iran?” Don Jr wrote as Iran launched attacks on Israel.
“Times like these should make us all realize how lucky we were to have Trump, his strength, and his resolve.”
Remember when they said Trump would get us into a full-blown war with Iran? Times like these should make us all realize how lucky we were to have Trump, his strength and his resolve.
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) April 13, 2024
Don Jr has repeatedly voiced opposition to US involvement in foreign conflicts, aligning with the America First policy advocated by a section of his father’s electorate.
As a result, Don Jr could find himself at odds with the administration over views that contradict its military strategy in the Middle East, although he has not publicly addressed the reported disagreement.
A White House official cited by the newspaper expressed confidence that the military campaign had already significantly affected Iran and would end soon.
A spokesperson for Don Jr declined to comment to The Atlantic.
The White House did not directly address his reported opposition, but an official insisted that “Iran has been decimated, and one way or the other, the conflict in Iran will be over very soon.”
Trump faces falling approval over Iran war
The report comes as Trump faces growing political pressure over the conflict, including concerns about public support for his handling of the war.
Last month, CNN political director David Chalian described the conflict as “This war is nothing short of a political disaster for Donald Trump,” citing polling that showed approval of the president’s handling of the conflict had fallen from 33% in March to just 26%, including a 13-point drop among Republicans.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has also called on Trump to end the fighting. According to Mediaite, Johnson was urging the president to “wrap it up” in Iran as early as July.
The new allegations against Don Jr add to the controversy surrounding the war.
Although Trump’s son has not publicly opposed his father’s decision to launch the campaign, The Atlantic reports that he has privately expressed doubts about it from the beginning.
Neither Don Jr nor the White House has directly commented on the allegations.
The administration, meanwhile, maintains that the campaign has severely weakened Iran and that the fighting will end soon.
