Front Burner

The MAGA civil war over Iran

People in Donald Trump’s orbit have been split over U.S. military action against Iran. Have U.S. strikes in Iran deepened or papered over MAGA divisions?
Two men in suit and tie hold their arms out and gesture while speaking, while seated in chairs in an ornate room.
Conservative podcast host and commentator Tucker Carlson engages in an exchange with U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas on the subject of the United States' involvement in the conflict between Israel and Iran, in a still image from video released June 17, 2025. Tucker Carlson Network/Handout via REUTERS NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY MANDATORY CREDIT (Tucker Carlson Network/Reuters)

Over the last week, as the exchange of missiles between Israel and Iran intensified, Donald Trump's supporters have found themselves in two camps: the hawks, like Lindsay Graham and Ted Cruz who support America joining Israel in its fight against Iran. And the isolationists, like Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson, who urge the president not to plunge the U.S. into yet another protracted war in the Middle East. 

Now that the U.S. air strikes on Iran have been met with a retaliatory strike on a U.S. military base in Qatar, are the MAGA factions digging in their heels or falling in line with the White House?

Adam Wren, senior Politics correspondent at Politico and a contributing author to POLITICO Playbook, breaks it all down.

For transcripts of Front Burner, please visithttps://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts

Subscribe to Front Burner on your favourite podcast app.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Listen on YouTube