WASHINGTON: More top Maga influencers are turning against US President Donald Trump over the Iran war, denouncing it as a betrayal of his campaign promises, reported Xinhua.
The "Make America Great Again" (Maga) movement, which comprises Trump's core supporters, is experiencing a notable, albeit lopsided, split over Trump's war with Iran, with more high-profile influencers opposing the conflict.
Prominent media allies are breaking ranks, leading to internal, public feuds.
Leading conservative influencer Tucker Carlson recently said he regrets supporting Trump due to Trump's decision to go to war with Iran.
"I want to say I'm sorry for misleading people. It was not intentional," the Trump's former supporter and Maga icon said on April 20.
Carlson, who has millions of Maga followers, has also said that the war against Iran is US ally Israel's conflict and does nothing to improve the security of the United States.
Highly influential Maga figure Megyn Kelly has also blasted Trump over the war, as has Maga influencer Candace Owens, who accused the Trump administration of being compromised.
She claims that Trump has betrayed his base by abandoning "every single one" of his promises.
Experts say that increasing Maga influencers believe the president has broken campaign promises that were the basis for their support of Trump in the 2024 elections.
"Trump has a big problem with a number of high-profile influencers who supported him in 2024 but now feel he has betrayed his campaign promises.
"He promised to end foreign wars but has bombed many different countries," Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua.
Trump has blasted media figures opposing him, calling them "losers."
While vocal media personalities criticise the war as an "America last" policy, polls found that a large chunk of Maga Republicans support military action in Iran, according to an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll released Friday (May 1).
In comparison, 61% of Americans overall believe it was a mistake. With the Midterms coming in November, more observers believe the Maga split could harm the Republicans.
The United States and Israel launched major combat operations against Iran on Feb 28. The Trump administration formally notified Congress on March 2 of the military action, meaning the 60-day legal deadline would expire on May 1. — Bernama-Xinhua
