Iran Fractures MAGA Unity: Trump Attacks His Own Media Core as the Movement Splits into Three Camps

When US President Donald Trump posted a 482-word attack on Truth Social on Thursday evening targeting four of the most influential conservative commentators, it was no ordinary Trump conflict. Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones — people who helped build the MAGA movement, that is, Trump's political base — became targets of insults such as "stupid people," "lunatics," and "low-IQ nobodies." The reason was their criticism of the war with Iran. Even a year ago, such a public conflict between Trump and his media base would have been almost unimaginable. NBC News ↗

Each of the critics went a different distance. Carlson suggested that military officials should not follow orders leading to nuclear escalation. Kelly accused Trump of "gaslighting" the American public in order to "save face" in an unpopular conflict. Owens opened a debate about the 25th Amendment to the Constitution for removing the president and called his administration "satanic." Jones described Trump's behavior as a sign of "dementia" and suggested possible Israeli influence over Trump's decisions. The New Republic ↗

Trump responded point by point. According to him, Carlson "should see a good psychiatrist." Owens is "crazy." Jones says "some of the stupidest things," and Kelly has been "nasty" toward him. According to NBC News, Trump said in an interview for the New York Post that Carlson is "a low-IQ person who has no idea what's going on." NBC News ↗

The responses were equally sharp. Owens posted a screenshot of Trump's post with the comment: "Maybe it's time to put grandpa in a home." Carlson published a newsletter suggesting that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu could be blackmailing Trump. Commentator Tim Pool wrote: "This was the last straw." Even Trump's fans on Truth Social expressed frustration — one wrote: "Trump is going against everyone who fought for him," another simply: "YOU'VE LOST MY SUPPORT." The New Republic ↗

Behind the conflict lies more than just personal ego. According to analysts, this is a dispute over the direction of MAGA as a movement, which is splitting into three camps: hawks who want tougher action against Iran, isolationists around Carlson for whom "America First" means no more wars, and Trump's own line — strength combined with halting nuclear escalation. Trump is thus receiving criticism from both sides of his own camp. NBC News ↗

The rift is unfolding not only on social media but also in the data. According to YouGov and The Economist, Trump's support among his own 2024 voters has fallen six points to 76 percent. Among self-identified MAGA supporters, it has fallen five points to 92 percent. Among independent voters, his support stands at 22 percent — down from 31 percent in early March. The president's overall popularity has fallen to 35 percent. Only 28 percent of Americans, according to polls, approve of Trump's handling of the war with Iran. The Hill ↗

The roots of the crisis go back to February 28, when the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran. During the 2024 campaign, Trump promised "no new wars" — and it is precisely this promise that has become the fault line along which the movement is breaking. The ceasefire with Iran declared in early April satisfied neither side — for the hawks it is too weak, for the isolationists it came too late. NBC News ↗

Analysts are already calling the situation a "civil war within MAGA." The question is not whether Trump will survive politically — his institutional power still remains relatively solid for now. The question is what MAGA will mean in 2026: a movement for isolation and domestic interests, or a tool of American military projection. The answer to this question is being shaped right now — and it is being shaped by the very people Trump has just declared enemies. For the first time, he is not arguing with the opposition — but with his own ecosystem.