Trump’s ‘Operation Epic Fury’ sparks a massive identity crisis among his biggest MAGA fans

President Donald Trump’s “Operation Epic Fury” in Iran is sparking a significant identity crisis among some of his most vocal MAGA supporters, leading to a surprising surge of online criticism against the president’s new military actions. It’s a wild turn of events for a movement known for its unwavering loyalty.

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson openly questioned the move, stating on his weekly political podcast, “This is Israel’s war. This is not the United States’ war.” Megyn Kelly, another former Fox News personality with a massive online following, echoed similar sentiments on her podcast, saying “No one should have to die for a foreign country.” Even Daily Wire podcaster Matt Walsh took to X with a pointed critique, “I can’t take the gaslighting, guys. I really can’t.”

Per the Washington Post, for many of Trump’s staunchest critics, this military conflict just doesn’t sit right with his long-standing “America First” principles. He has consistently criticized costly, drawn-out American military interventions, calling the Iraq War “a big, fat mistake” in 2016. Then, in 2024, he campaigned as “the candidate of peace,” promising in his election night victory speech, “I’m not going to start a war.” 

It is no wonder they see the attacks as a betrayal

Trump, however, is pushing back on the idea that these critics speak for the MAGA movement. “MAGA is Trump,” he declared in an interview with independent journalist Rachael Bade. He clarified that “MAGA wants to see our country thrive and be safe. And MAGA loves what I’m doing, every aspect of it.” 

White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales backed this up in a statement, writing, “President Trump is MAGA and MAGA is President Trump. With Operation Epic Fury, President Trump is putting America first, eliminating the threat to our people, and securing our Nation and world for generations to come.”

This sheer volume of dissent suggests this could be a “breaking point” for some of Trump’s most influential supporters. Carlson, Kelly, and Walsh alone command over 13 million YouTube subscribers, plus millions more across other platforms. 

Stephen K. Bannon, who served as Trump’s chief strategist, had a very clear warning, saying, “I’m just going to be brutally frank. That was not pitched in the 2024 campaign. We’re going to bleed support.” Recent polls back up Bannon’s statement, as a growing number of Trump supporters have stated they are against military action.

Criticism of the attacks has come fast and hard, exacerbated by the seeming lack of a plan for these attacks. An expert pointed out that the pushback gained traction because the administration has struggled to articulate a clear message for the right to rally around. This has left conservative influencers to chart their own course based on personal beliefs, loyalty to Trump, and their assessment of the risk that the conflict becomes unpopular with MAGA voters. 

Of course, despite these staunch criticisms, they are the minority. The vast majority of conservative figures, like Laura Loomer,  have come out in support of Trump.