During a new interview with The Atlantic, Trump was asked about his support for Israel in its conflict with Iran. Some of his usual supporters are upset. They believe helping Israel could drag the United States into war. They say this goes against Trump’s well-known slogan, “America First.”
But Trump had a simple answer.
“Well, considering that I’m the one that developed ‘America First’ and considering that the term wasn’t used until I came along, I think I’m the one that decides that,” he told The Atlantic.
In other words, it means whatever he wants it to mean.
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Trump’s critics have grown louder in recent days. Even Tucker Carlson, one of Trump’s closest media allies, spoke out. “Who are the warmongers?” Carlson asked in a post on X. “They would include anyone who’s calling Donald Trump today to demand air strikes and other direct US military involvement in a war with Iran.”
Trump said he had not heard those concerns. But he made it clear that stopping Iran from building a nuclear weapon is more important than pleasing his base. “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, very simple,” he said. “Regardless—Israel or not Israel—Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb.”
He also said, “For those people who say they want peace—you cannot have peace if Iran has a nuclear weapon.”
These comments came after Israel launched a “preemptive strike” on Iran’s nuclear sites last week. Iran responded with missile attacks. The United States helped Israel shoot them down, but it was not involved in the first attack.
Still, this has made many people in Trump’s base nervous. They remember Trump promising to stay out of foreign wars. Now they see him supporting one.
During the interview, Trump took a call from Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Mike, I have to go,” he said. “I am taking a call from Putin.”
Hours later, Trump wrote about the call on Truth Social. He said Putin had called to wish him a happy birthday. Trump turned 79 on June 14. He also said they spoke about both the Iran-Israel conflict and the war in Ukraine.
“He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end,” Trump wrote.
At this point, “America First” does not seem to mean peace or independence. It seems to mean whatever helps Trump look strong at the moment. But slogans do not stop wars. And for a president who claims to put America first, his choices continue to raise more questions than answers.
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
