March 6, 2026, 4:30 a.m. ET
The Iranian regime has repressed civil liberties, especially against women and children, and deserves to be obliterated.
But the conflict in that region has escalated, following the successful strikes on Feb. 28 that led to the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. That escalation includes the death of at least six U.S. service members so far.
As a result, conservatives – particularly well-known thought leaders – have begun asking questions. This is a good thing.
I supported President Donald Trump‘s initial actions, which debilitated oppressive Iranian leadership with Israel’s help. But like many conservatives, I also wonder what the future holds for Americans, especially our service members.
MAGA isn’t turning on Trump because of Iran war
The president has said that military operations could last four to five weeks, or longer. On social media, Trump said our military has enough weaponry to fight “forever.”
I appreciate the bravado, but my generation has an aversion to any kind of “forever war.” Iran is no Venezuela. The United States ousted dictator Nicolás Maduro in under a day. I do not want this to become a repeat of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which lasted roughly two decades.
I’m not alone in this. I’m seeing similar sentiments among vocal conservatives, either condemning or questioning the war, or generating debate about it.
Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson told ABC News that the Iran campaign is “disgusting and evil.” I wouldn’t call Carlson strictly MAGA-affiliated, but he remains influential among conservatives.
Megyn Kelly, another former Fox News anchor and Trump supporter, said: “I would like to be better convinced that this is worth the sacrifice of American blood and treasure.”
Matt Walsh, a conservative and podcaster at “The Daily Wire,” has been vocally against Trump’s Iran strikes from the first day. He posted on X: “So far we’ve heard that although we killed the whole Iranian regime, this was not a regime change war. And although we obliterated their nuclear program, we had to do this because of their nuclear program. … The messaging on this thing is, to put it mildly, confused.”
Some portray these disagreements as “cracks” in MAGA. I see them differently: Conservatives are asking whether this conflict could become a long, expensive war that costs American lives. Blind loyalty to a political leader is unwise and shows a lack of critical thinking.
It is a healthy, important part of our democratic process to debate and question our own leaders, especially when they are within our own party, to sharpen our positions and strengths. Constructive criticism can expose whether an idea, policy or leader must change. That doesn’t mean there is an internal civil war.
I’m glad to see debate and loyalty among conservatives
These questions and comments show that conservatives hold diverse views within their party and underscore the necessity of robust, healthy debate.
Research actually shows that Democrats and Republicans underestimate the diversity of their views on policy and politics both within their own party and among the opposing party.
It’s also important to see that although some vocal commentators oppose or are asking important questions about this Iran war, every day, Republicans still support Trump.
CNN’s data analyst Harry Enten said March 5, “Republicans love Donald Trump more than any president’s own party’s supporters loved them at this particular point.”
According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted Feb. 28-March 1, 55% of Republicans support Trump’s military action. A CNN poll says 77% of Republicans approve of the U.S. decision to take military action.
If the United States is able to neutralize Iran’s leadership and exit swiftly, accomplishing its objectives with the precision and tempo of Operation Absolute Resolve in Venezuela and Operation Midnight Hammer in June in Iran, the latest campaign will mark yet another historic example of rapid, coordinated U.S. military action. It will bolster the reality that under Trump’s leadership, America does not bluff ‒ it acts.
But if Trump is wrong and this does turn into a lengthy conflict, he will lose support among conservatives, MAGA or not. I don’t know if this war in Iran will create a fissure that will turn into a tectonic shift among the MAGA base, but to be honest, I don’t care.
The president serves the people, not just MAGA and certainly not Iran. What matters more to me than if Trump’s base remains intact is whether when our own party is in power, conservatives maintain robust ideas, healthy debate over policy, and focus and precision in geopolitical matters.
What I see among conservatives is healthy debate – an essential part of conservatism.
Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids. Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track, and get it delivered to your inbox.
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