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Trump downplays signs of MAGA unrest over possible military strike on Iran
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President Donald Trump appears to be downplaying talk that some of his long-loyal MAGA supporters are breaking with him over the possibility that the president will order a military strike on Iran.
This amid the nearly week-long daily trading of fire between the Islamic State and Israel, America’s top ally in the Middle East.
«My supporters are more in love with me today, and I’m more in love with them, more than they even were at election time,» the president said when asked about a GOP rift between some of his most vocal supporters of his America First agenda, and more traditional national security conservatives.
The president, speaking to reporters on Wednesday on the South Lawn of the White House, added: «I may have some people that are a little bit unhappy now, but I have some people that are very happy, and I have people outside of the base that can’t believe that this is happening. They’re so happy.»
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President Donald Trump takes questions from reporters regarding the Israel-Iran attacks in the Middle East, as a flag pole is installed on the South Lawn of the White House, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Asked if he would order an attack on Iran to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons, the president said, «I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do. I can tell you this, that Iran’s got a lot of trouble.»
The prospect of Trump jumping into the incredibly volatile situation in the Middle East is causing plenty of consternation among some of his top political and ideological allies, and creating divisions within MAGA – a rare moment for a movement that’s been firmly supportive of Trump since his 2016 White House campaign.
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Some top MAGA voices over the past week have argued against any kind of U.S. military involvement with Israel against Iran, arguing it would contradict Trump’s America First policy to keep the nation out of foreign wars. And they say it would repeat the move more than two decades ago by then-President George W. Bush to attack Iraq, which Trump had long criticized on the campaign trail.
People gather on a hill to watch smoke rising in the distance from an Israeli airstrike in Tehran, Iran, on June 14, 2025. (Photo by KHOSHIRAN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
Among those speaking out have been conservative commentator Tucker Carlson and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a top Trump House ally.
Also voicing concerns while remaining firmly supportive of the president are Charlie Kirk — the conservative host and MAGA-world figurehead who leads the influential Turning Point USA — and Steve Bannon, a prominent MAGA ally and former top adviser to Trump’s 2016 campaign.
But there’s been plenty of support for Trump, and for attacking Iran, by other top MAGA world voices.
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Also defending Trump this week was Vice President JD Vance, who is a top voice in the America First, isolationist wing of the party.
Vance, speaking to both sides, highlighted Tuesday in a social media post that «people are right to be worried about foreign entanglement after the last 25 years of idiotic foreign policy.»
But Vance stressed that Trump «has earned some trust on this issue.»
And the vice president added that «having seen this up close and personal, I can assure you that he is only interested in using American military to accomplish the American people’s goals. Whatever he does, that is his focus.»
President Donald Trump meets with members of the Juventus soccer club in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Trump, speaking with reporters on Wednesday afternoon, said: «I don’t want to get involved either, but I’ve been saying for 20 years, maybe longer, that Iran can not have a nuclear weapon.»
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«My supporters are for me. My supporters are America First and Make America Great Again. My supporters don’t want to see Iran have a nuclear weapon,» the president added.
The current debate within the Republican Party wouldn’t have happened before Trump shook up and remade the GOP over the past decade.
Wayne Lesperance, a veteran political scientist and the president of New England College, highlighted that «the divide in the GOP can be traced to Trump’s promises to pull America back from its entanglements in the world.»
And Matthew Bartlett, a Republican strategist who served at the State Department during Trump’s first term, noted that «Donald Trump changed the direction of the Republican Party» when it comes to American military engagements around the world.
«That gave him a new coalition and new political power. This new war in the Middle East is certainly threatening that coalition. While we are not yet involved in a war, chances of escalation are dramatically increased and that certainly has ramifications with the MAGA coalition,» Bartlett warned.
El acuerdo entre la Unión Europea y Estados Unidos evitó una guerra comercial y fue celebrado por los jefes de gobierno y altos funcionarios del bloque como una victoria diplomática con efectos inmediatos en sectores clave.
El nuevo marco fija un arancel máximo del 15 % para la mayoría de las exportaciones europeas, reemplazando el 30 % que Washington amenazaba con imponer a partir del 1 de agosto. El acuerdo también prevé nuevas compras europeas de energía y equipamiento militar estadounidenses.
El canciller alemán, Friedrich Merz, expresó su satisfacción por el resultado de las negociaciones entre Ursula von der Leyen y Donald Trump, que tuvieron lugar en el complejo de golf del presidente estadounidense en Turnberry, Escocia.
“Es positivo que Europa y EEUU hayan llegado a un consenso y eviten así una innecesaria escalada en las relaciones comerciales transatlánticas”, declaró. Subrayó que el entendimiento aleja el riesgo de un conflicto que habría afectado severamente a la economía alemana, especialmente a su industria automovilística, donde los aranceles bajarán del 27,5 % al 15 %.
Desde Bruselas, la presidenta del Parlamento Europeo, Roberta Metsola, también valoró el acuerdo como un “paso importante” hacia el fortalecimiento de la asociación con Estados Unidos. Aseguró que la Eurocámara revisará el texto para asegurar que responde a los intereses de las empresas y consumidores del bloque.
El anuncio oficial de la Comisión confirmó que el nuevo arancel del 15 % cubrirá sectores como automóviles, semiconductores y productos farmacéuticos, aunque este último fue inicialmente excluido por Trump en sus declaraciones.
El entendimiento incluye también la eliminación de aranceles sobre una serie de productos estratégicos, entre ellos componentes aeroespaciales, ciertos químicos, recursos naturales, productos agrícolas y materias primas. Según Von der Leyen, ambas partes seguirán trabajando para ampliar esta lista.
Desde Dublín, el primer ministro irlandés, Micheál Martin, celebró que el acuerdo proporcione “claridad y previsibilidad” a la relación comercial entre ambos bloques. “Ayudará a proteger muchos empleos en Irlanda”, sostuvo. Reconoció que las negociaciones fueron complejas y advirtió que el nuevo marco incluye algunos gravámenes más altos que los actuales. Sin embargo, consideró que inaugura una etapa de mayor estabilidad económica, crucial para los países con fuerte vínculo exportador como Irlanda.
El presidente del Consejo Europeo, António Costa, remarcó que la “determinación y unidad” de los negociadores europeos permitió cerrar un trato que protege los “intereses fundamentales” de la UE. Elogió la labor de Von der Leyen y del comisario de Comercio, Maroš Šefčovič, al tiempo que alentó a profundizar la competitividad global del bloque.
Von der Leyen reafirmó que la Unión está ampliando su red de tratados con regiones clave: “Hemos concluido negociaciones con Mercosur, México e Indonesia. En un mundo inestable, Europa es un socio confiable”.
Por su parte, el primer ministro en funciones de Países Bajos, Dick Schoof, calificó el pacto como “crucial” para una economía abierta como la neerlandesa. Recordó que su país exporta anualmente más de 50.000 millones de euros a Estados Unidos y pidió una pronta implementación del acuerdo. Aunque consideró que lo ideal habría sido la eliminación total de aranceles, sostuvo que el resultado actual brinda a las empresas mayor previsibilidad.
El acuerdo incluye también compromisos financieros por parte de la Unión Europea: 750.000 millones de dólares en compras de energía estadounidense y 600.000 millones en inversiones adicionales en el país norteamericano, además de un incremento en la adquisición de material militar fabricado en EEUU.
Los distintos líderes coincidieron en que la cooperación fue clave para alcanzar un equilibrio que evita mayores tensiones y protege el comercio bilateral.
(Con información de EFE)
Corporate Events,Diplomacy / Foreign Policy,Europe,TURNBERRY
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Tailandia y Camboya acuerdan una reunión en Malasia para negociar el fin de los combates y la disputa fronteriza
Los enfrentamientos
Vehículos militares en la provincia de Sisaket, mientras Camboya y Tailandia dijeron que el otro había lanzado ataques de artillería en áreas fronterizas en disputa la madruga. Foto ReutersTailandia,Camboya
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Freedom Caucus lawmaker Ralph Norman vows to ‘shake things up’ in South Carolina governor bid
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A lawmaker in the conservative House Freedom Caucus is launching his campaign to be governor of South Carolina.
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., who came to Congress in 2017, kicked off his Palmetto State bid with a Rock Hill campaign rally on Sunday.
«I am running for governor to shake things up, clean up Columbia, and finally take down the corrupt political establishment once and for all,» Norman is telling voters, according to prepared remarks obtained by Fox News Digital. «I owe nothing to the lobbyists. I owe nothing to the Columbia bureaucratic elite. My allegiance is to you, the people of South Carolina.»
As part of his campaign platform, Norman is promising to establish a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) «commission» in the state «that roots out waste, fraud, and abuse.»
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Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., is launching his campaign for governor on Sunday (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Norman is also running on the promise of fixing South Carolina’s infrastructure, implementing term limits for state lawmakers, tort reform, and pledging to «let the people vote on judges.»
Currently, a majority of state judgeships in South Carolina are decided by the General Assembly. Some positions, including magistrate judges, are appointed by the governor.
Norman is also promising «to use the bully pulpit to bring my case directly to the people» and to «use the veto pen.»
His campaign speech also touches on socially conservative goals like advocating for school choice, and restricting school bathrooms by gender at birth.
«And if that all doesn’t work, I’m telling you now that any so-called «Republican» RINO legislator that doesn’t stand for reforms the people are calling for doesn’t deserve to be in office and we’ll beat them in Republican primaries if that’s what it takes,» Norman’s speech says.
Norman is joining a crowded Republican primary field with his Sunday announcement. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and state Sen. Josh Kimbrell are also in the race.
Meanwhile, Norman’s House colleague, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., is also said to be considering a campaign for governor.
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Current Gov. Henry McMaster is term-limited (Joshua Boucher/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
And in a state that President Donald Trump won by nearly 20 points in 2024, the commander-in-chief’s endorsement – both in the primary and general election – will likely be critical.
Norman pointed out in his speech that both he and Trump have a background in real estate; both men led development companies that were founded by their fathers.
«We need business leaders – people who have signed both the front and the back of a paycheck. Folks who have built something, taken risks, made money, and yes, lost money too,» Norman said. «Thankfully, we have a great businessman – and fellow developer – back in the White House! Just look what a difference President Trump has made in six months.»
He also cast himself as a disruptor who helped move «the needle by making our budget more conservative,» in reference to the House Freedom Caucus’s push to move Trump’s «big, beautiful bill» to the right.
And while the group was successful in doing that in the House, the Senate watered down several of those wins during its time considering the bill. The Senate version ultimately passed the House, with Norman and other Freedom Caucus members voting in support.
«Some say I have earned a reputation of being uncompromising, always trying to make a bill more conservative,» Norman’s speech says. «Well folks, I’ll take that as a compliment and I am proud of it.»
As a member of Congress, Norman sits on the House Committee on Financial Services, House Budget Committee, and House Rules Committee.
President Donald Trump’s endorsement will be critical in the race (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
A longtime ally of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Norman was the only House Republican to formally endorse her before Haley dropped out of the race, after which Norman backed Trump.
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He told Fox News Digital of his endorsement in January 2024, «When I supported Nikki Haley, I had the respect of Donald Trump to call him, and I told him what I was gonna do, and I decided I was going to do it.»
It’s worth noting, however, that Norman had been a vocal supporter of Trump since Haley’s exit – and unlike other House Freedom Caucus allies, he did not incur Trump’s wrath for his loyalty to Haley.
He was most recently at the White House earlier this week with other House Republicans for a reception celebrating their legislative successes.
The South Carolina gubernatorial general election will take place in November 2026.
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