Loyal Supporters Disappointed, Call Donald Trump a 'Betrayer' of America First
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — The United States’ military conflict with Iran, ongoing since early March 2026, has triggered a significant wave of internal criticism against President Donald Trump’s administration.
This escalation is seen not only as a betrayal of Trump’s campaign promises to keep the US out of new conflicts in the Middle East but also as exacerbating domestic economic pressures, particularly the rise in fuel prices, which contradicts pledges to curb inflation.
A recent CBS News poll shows President Trump’s approval rating has plummeted to 40%, with disapproval reaching 60%. In street interviews and on social media, sentiments of regret from voters who previously supported Trump are increasingly evident. Even several Republican Party politicians, who have long been pillars of support for the administration, are beginning to show their unease.
Doubts Within the Republican Party
In early March, Republican Senator John Kennedy expressed optimism with the statement, “We’ve already won in Iran.” However, as time passed and the situation on the ground failed to subside, that optimistic tone began to fade. The turning point came when the Trump administration requested an additional $200 billion in war funding, a shocking figure given that the new conflict had lasted less than a month, as reported by Daily Sabah.
Kennedy then stated he would not approve such a large allocation without a rigorous hearing process. In agreement, Representative Lauren Boebert from the MAGA (Make America Great Again) faction vocally opposed the additional funding. Boebert expressed fatigue over the continuous flow of tax dollars to the military-industrial complex, while her constituents in Colorado struggle to meet basic needs.
Boebert’s stance has drawn attention. Alongside Marjorie Taylor Greene, she is known as one of the most vocal women in the MAGA camp. However, Trump’s foreign policy, seen as overly accommodating to Israel’s interests even at the expense of US national interests, is beginning to shake their loyalty.
Former US Army Colonel and Democratic Representative Eugene Vindman told MSNBC that several of his Republican colleagues privately stated that deploying ground troops is a red line that must not be crossed.
Shifts in Pro-Trump Figures’ Stances
The sharpest criticism has come from figures who were previously staunch Trump supporters. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who in 2021 aggressively promoted “Pray for Israel” bracelets, now openly condemns what she calls Israel’s atrocities in Palestine. She even wrote that “war with Iran is America’s last war” and highlighted how pro-war factions celebrate the deaths of US soldiers.