Donald Trump’s handling of the war in Iran is met with criticism within his own ranks.Image: keystone
With his decisions in the Iran war, the US President is tearing the MAGA movement apart. USA expert Claudia Brühwiler says which member of the government Trump could learn something from.
April 10, 2026, 9:41 p.mApril 10, 2026, 9:41 p.m
The “mad king” has to be removed, says one person, “that’s dementia,” says another. These are not Democrats who are dishing out things against the US President, but rather conservative opinion makers. These include right-wing activist Candace Owens, former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson, radio host Alex Jones and former Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.
The former figureheads of Trump’s MAGA (“Make America Great Again”) movement are outraged by the war in Iran. The last straw was the US President’s vulgar outbursts over the Easter weekend. In these, he threatened, among other things, to “wipe out an entire civilization” and “bomb it back to the Stone Age” if the Iranians did not open the Strait of Hormuz.
Former Republican congresswoman Majorie Taylor Greene and ex-Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson were among the US president’s loudest supporters. Today they criticize him openly.Image: keystone
As a result, Carlson called on US military personnel to reject Trump’s alleged plans to kill civilians. Owens called the government “satanic” and called on the House of Representatives to remove him from office.
The verbal shots against him did not go unnoticed by the president. In a social media post he railed against his own followers. “These people have no idea how to win,” said Trump. He called the conservative commentators – in his style – “losers,” “crazy” and “stupid people.”
Two Republican camps
The rejection of loud supporters is currently tearing the Trump camp apart. Even some Republican lawmakers expressed increasing concern about the war against Iran after the president’s Easter outburst. How dangerous is this development for Trump?
According to HSG professor Claudia Brühwiler, it is currently still within limits. The resistance within our own ranks is currently primarily rhetorical, says Brühwiler. “There are comparatively few Republicans, including those who are already critical of Trump,” said the USA expert. This includes Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska.
Two camps can be identified within Trump’s government, says Brühwiler: On the one hand, there are those forces that position him as a “peace president” and are having difficulty with the robust course. This group also includes Vice President JD Vance, who reportedly advised Trump to keep the “military operation” in Iran as short as possible.
“On the other side are Foreign Minister Marco Rubio and the representatives of a traditionally tougher foreign policy who continue to believe in the USA’s role as an ordering power,” said Brühwiler. The latter have currently prevailed.
Rubio as a role model
Even if the mood among the Republicans is currently tense, Brühwiler is certain: “More would be needed for a real break within the party.” As long as leading party members do not take concrete action against Trump and the majority of Republican voters do not oppose the war, the president’s position is solidified. Just this week, Republicans in Congress blocked a Democratic resolution to stop the war. According to surveys, opposition to the war among Republican voters is also limited.
According to USA expert Brühwiler, Trump could learn something from his Foreign Minister Marco Rubio.Image: keystone
But his Easter freakout did the president no favors with his conservative base. One of the main problems with the Trump administration is that it doesn’t communicate enough to its electorate why it does certain things. This also includes an explanation as to why the USA attacked Iran now. “He would do well to learn something from his foreign minister,” says USA expert Claudia Brühwiler about the US President. A statesman is currently required. Marco Rubio fulfills this role much better than his boss.
But things won’t get serious for the government until November. Voters will then elect representatives in the House of Representatives and Senate. Both chambers of Congress are currently in Republican hands. One issue in particular will then be decisive with regard to the Iran war: “The question is whether the economic consequences of the war will still be felt,” says Brühwiler.
The insults from Carlson, Owens and Co. are unlikely to convert Republicans into Democrats, especially since these commentators move in right-wing circles that are generally not sought out by swing voters. Nevertheless, they could harm Trump: “The only alternative for those who can encourage them is that they don’t vote,” says Brühwiler. (fwa)