Following a deadly missile strike exchanged between Israel and Iran over the weekend, tensions in the Middle East have spilled over into the Republican Party. Once a symbol of conservative unity, the America First coalition is now showing visible and vocal fractures over what role, if any, the United States should play in the conflict.
At the center of the divide is a question many in the conservative movement are struggling to answer: Should the U.S. be involved in the Israeli–Iranian conflict?
Texas State Rep. Briscoe Cain made his stance clear, warning against foreign entanglements.
“Leave our sons and daughters out of it. No more wars,” Cain posted on X.
Sen. Rand Paul struck a similar tone, attributing diplomatic progress to President Trump’s restraint.
“Iran’s return to the negotiating table is a direct result of President Trump’s deliberate, non-interventionist strategy,” Paul posted on X.
“Thank you @POTUS for being unapologetically America First.”
Tucker Carlson, a longtime critic of endless foreign wars, issued a sharp warning:
“If Israel wants to wage this war, it has every right to do so. It is a sovereign country, and it can do as it pleases. But not with America’s backing. At an absolute minimum, the United States continuing to insert itself in this conflict will further whip up the radical Islamic world’s hatred for the West and fuel the next generation of terrorism. The worst case? Thousands of immediate American deaths, all in the name of a foreign agenda that has nothing to do with our country,” Carlson said in a statement.
But not everyone on the Right agrees.
Conservative commentator Mark Levin took to social media to rebuke what he called “fake MAGA grifters” and urged Americans to back Israel and the President.
“WE, IN REAL MAGA, REAL AMERICAN PATRIOTS, STAND WITH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, OUR MILITARY, AND OUR ISRAELI ALLIES!… President Trump has made clear that he wants peace, and that the Iranian regime with nuclear weapons is not about peace but genocide. For the vast majority of Americans, nothing could be clearer,” Levin posted on X.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz also offered a full-throated endorsement of U.S. support for Israel during the conflict, calling it vital to American interests.
“We stand unequivocally with the state of Israel. That is where America is. It is where I am. And it is the right place to be for the interest of the United States of America,” Cruz said during a Fox News appearance.
President Trump’s administration has stated it intends to stay out of the conflict, but the President issued a direct warning to Iran’s leadership.
“We know exactly where the so-called “Supreme Leader” is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump posted on June 17 to Truth Social.
The internal conflict has exposed deep divisions within the America First movement. While some leaders push for restraint, diplomacy, and national self-interest, others argue the U.S. must stand firmly with Israel — even if that risks future military entanglement. The future of conservative foreign policy may hang in the balance.