FnF News
FNF News | U.S. Politics & Foreign Affairs
Published: June 17, 2025
By: Khadija Khan, Senior Analyst
“America First” or “Israel First”? Conservative Base Erupts Over Foreign Policy Shift
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A political firestorm is erupting inside the America First movement as a growing number of conservatives accuse Republican leadership of betraying the anti-war values that powered the Trump revolution. At the center of the outrage: expanded U.S. military assistance to Israel, renewed troop deployments, and whispers of yet another Middle Eastern escalation.
“I voted for no more wars,” said Thomas Whalen, a retired police sergeant from Ohio who attended four Trump rallies in 2020. “I voted for America First — not Israel First. If this keeps up, we’re handing the next 20 years to the Democrats.”
This frustration isn’t limited to fringe voices. It’s becoming mainstream across conservative media, veterans’ groups, and former Trump campaign coalitions. And it’s already impacting fundraising, polling, and primary dynamics nationwide.
Base Revolt: From Online Forums to Fox
In MAGA forums, conservative Telegram channels, and on Truth Social, the backlash is intense. Many longtime Trump supporters are drawing a clear line: no more foreign wars, period — not even for allies.
A recent Rasmussen poll found that 63% of Republican voters oppose increased U.S. military aid to Israel, especially if it includes troop deployments. Among self-identified America First voters, that number rises to 78%.
Even conservative commentators like Tucker Carlson and Charlie Kirk have voiced alarm.
“This country is nearly $35 trillion in debt, our borders are collapsing, our cities are lawless, and yet we’re shipping missiles overseas like candy,” Carlson said on his online show. “That’s not America First. That’s lobby-first foreign policy.”
Trump’s Dilemma: Loyalty, Legacy, and the Likud Wing
Former President Donald Trump, who once campaigned on ending “stupid wars,” now finds himself caught between two competing loyalties: his deep relationship with Israel and his anti-interventionist voter base.
In 2019, Trump moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and cut a series of historic deals under the Abraham Accords. But recent developments — including proposals to station U.S. intelligence assets in Tel Aviv and provide emergency defense funding — are drawing new scrutiny.
“Israel has a right to defend itself. But they’re not the 51st state,” said Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who warned against “sleepwalking into another endless war” during a House briefing last week.
The latest aid package, passed with quiet bipartisan support, includes drone systems, missile replenishment, and logistical coordination — though not direct combat troops. Still, many fear it sets the stage for deeper entanglement.
The Risk of Losing the Working-Class Right
Rural conservatives and working-class veterans, once the backbone of the Trump movement, are feeling alienated. In states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, early GOP polling shows a 5-8 point dip in enthusiasm among key America First voters.
“We supported Trump because he wasn’t like Bush, Cheney, or McCain,” said Jennifer Wilcox, a Michigan Trump precinct captain. “Now I’m seeing the same playbook — ‘support our ally’ turns into 10 years in the desert.”
Some strategists warn that if this disconnect isn’t addressed, it could lead to low turnout, third-party support, or even a splintering of the GOP coalition ahead of 2026 and 2028.
America First Means America First — Or It Means Nothing
The core principle of the America First movement was always this: Our blood, our money, and our military are not for sale to foreign governments, no matter how historic the alliance.
That doesn’t mean abandoning allies. It means requiring self-reliance and ending the cycle of codependency.
“We have 300,000 homeless veterans. Our border is an open wound. And we’re debating how much to spend defending foreign soil?” asked conservative economist Peter Navarro on Real America’s Voice. “No wonder the base is furious.”
A Warning from History
Many remember how the Iraq War split the right in the early 2000s — with long-term damage to the Republican brand. Neoconservatives lost credibility, and it took a decade for populist conservatives to regain momentum.
Now, some fear the same fracture is emerging — this time over Israel, not Iraq.
“Let Israel defend itself. We’ll cheer them on. But stop writing blank checks with American blood,” said Col. Allen Chambers (Ret.), a Texas-based veteran now campaigning for America First candidates.
Sources:
- Rasmussen Reports — “GOP Voter Sentiment on Israel Aid” (June 2025)
- Real America’s Voice — Peter Navarro Interview
- Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) — House Briefing Transcript
- Tucker Carlson Digital — “Middle East Again?” Episode, June 15
- Pew Research — “Veteran Voter Attitudes in Post-Afghanistan Era”
- Fox News — “Israel Defense Funding Sparks GOP Divide”