The ongoing conflict with Iran has taken a significant toll on President Donald Trump's popularity among the American public, according to recent polls. The war, which began in February, has sparked widespread discontent, with rising fuel prices and a deeply unpopular war in the Middle East contributing to the president's declining approval ratings.
Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson has warned that the fallout from the Iran War will signal the end of Trump and the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, which has been credited with propelling Trump into the White House. Despite the president's efforts to sign a 14-point peace plan, the conflict has drawn to a close, and its consequences will continue to damage Trump and his firebrand supporters.
Carlson, who formally broke with Trump's Republican Party this week, has been scathing in his assessment of the president's future. He claims that Trump understands the big picture politics and knew the consequences of going to war in Iran. However, he chose to pursue the conflict despite the risks, and now his legacy will be tainted by it.
Just as George Bush Junior's presidency was defined by the 2003 Iraq War and the 2008 financial crisis, Trump's legacy will be stained by his conflict with Iran, according to Carlson. He believes that the Iran War will be a defining fact of Trump's presidency, regardless of other accomplishments.
Carlson has also been critical of the Republican Party's approach to foreign policy, arguing that the US should not intervene in conflicts abroad. He claims that the party's actions are driven by self-interest and a desire to please donors, rather than a genuine concern for the country's well-being. He has pledged to be a consistent defender of the party, but his departure from the Republican Party signals a significant shift in the party's stance on foreign policy.
A joint Economist/YouGov poll has put Trump's approval rating at just 37% this week, with nearly 60% of Americans disapproving of the president. The poll suggests that the party is bracing for a tough November midterm election, with 5% of voters still undecided.
