Trump's Son Privately Warned Him Against US Involvement in a Middle East War
Donald Trump Jr, the eldest son of US President Donald Trump, is not happy about a war with Iran and has expressed his concern to his father in private discussions, the American magazine The Atlantic has reported.
The report, published on Wednesday, said that during the 2024 presidential election campaign, Trump's son, often known as Don Jr, wanted his father not to involve the United States in another war in the Middle East.
Sources cited in the report said Don Jr has repeatedly opposed an Iran war in private conversations with Trump.
He has maintained a cautious position on foreign entanglements and believes the United States should not become involved in any war in the Middle East.
Trump's son was close to the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was himself opposed to war. That closeness was also mentioned in the report.
One source told the publication that Don has kept his views on this matter private because he would never publicly oppose his father's position. For those who know Don, however, his private view is not at all surprising.
The Iran war has also exposed a growing split inside the MAGA camp. In the view of its anti-war wing, becoming involved in foreign wars means betraying domestic priorities.
One source told the publication that Don Jr is the most hardline MAGA supporter of all. His opposition to war is being seen as significant precisely because of that position.
Even inside the administration, senior officials including Vice-President JD Vance privately expressed doubts about the conflict during discussions on supporting Israel's military operation.
Figures such as CIA director John Ratcliffe and Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed doubts about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal from early February. They questioned whether a country's regime could be changed through air strikes alone.
According to a Pew Research Center survey, 65 percent of Americans do not support Trump's handling of the Iran conflict, while 33 percent support it. The survey, conducted from 28 September to 4 October, reflected public fatigue and deep concern over a prolonged military operation.
Support among Republicans has fallen from 69 percent in March to 63 percent. Almost half of Americans believe the conflict could last more than a year, far longer than the administration's initial estimate of four to six weeks.
