Journalists sometimes indulge in the myths and delusions they claim to be condemning.
This lattice trend is on display in an almost dizzying light amid the ongoing fallout from US President Donald Trump’s imprudent decision to join Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in starting a war with Iran.
Like dominoes, a “narrative” gained momentum among America’s “progressive” commentators, claiming that President Trump’s war orders had angered the broader MAGA movement and caused seismic shifts in his fervent base.
It is a foolish myth and a seductive delusion.
Indeed, a handful of familiar MAGA figures are complaining that the new Middle East conflict betrays the “America First” promise that helped propel President Trump back into the White House.
Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly has questioned whether the United States is once again becoming embroiled in endless wars without purpose or meaning. Podcaster Joe Rogan spoke about the tragic and unintended consequences of conflict. Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson warned that unprovoked attacks could cause chaos across an already volatile region.
Of course, Trump fended off the backlash with his trademark brusqueness. He lashed out. He dismissed the opposition. He mocked allies who briefly turned detractors.
Headlines blared that family disputes threatened to drag MAGA disciples into a “civil war.”
The idea that MAGA has collapsed is an illusion. Anxiety is not a rupture. Opposition is not rebellion.
The MAGA “movement” is not a traditional coalition held together by an agreement centered around a consistently considered set of principles or policies.
MAGA is, and always has been, a political phenomenon constructed to burnish one man’s ego and narcissism. As long as that man is Trump, the “movement” will bend to his plans and whims. Adjust. And inevitably, we return to the faithful line.
That loyalty remains the movement’s defining force.
For nearly a decade, President Trump has tested his limits. He has survived scandals that would have been scandalous for most politicians. Impeached twice. Conviction. A series of controversies, including his close and long-standing friendship with notorious pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, founder of a global sex trafficking ring.
Through all of this, MAGA has, if anything, strengthened its loving embrace of Trump.
The idea that sibling disputes over foreign policy can shatter ties of vice is absurd. That bond is emotion. It’s a visceral thing.
To his exasperated supporters, Trump is the embodiment of frustrated rebellion. He is a charismatic defender of Washington’s enemies: the gilded establishment, the media, and the world order, which he treats with ridicule and contempt.
Within that parochial framework, Trump’s actions at home and abroad are filtered through the prism of loyalty. When Mr. Trump launches a war he once opposed, his devout supporters embrace his shifting rationales, even if they are dull and contradictory. They believe he sees threats that others ignore. They believe that he acts when others hesitate.
Indeed, polling confirms their unwavering confidence in President Trump’s judgment and his enduring appeal.
Republicans have always had different instincts. Some supporters lean towards isolationism. Some people prefer to aggressively display America’s unparalleled power.
While there may be signs of anxiety among Republicans about the prospect of a long and costly war with Iran, that anxiety has not led to a widespread uprising right away, and probably won’t lead to a large-scale uprising any time soon.
Trump’s position within the Republican Party remains strong. His approval rating among Republican voters remains high. they trust him.
That confidence overrides simmering doubts raised by some high-profile but MAGA-indulgent experts and a few recalcitrant members of Congress.
Kelly knows that. Logan knows that. Carlson knows that.
The trio understands that they operate within a MAGA universe formed and controlled by Trump. Their popularity and influence depends on whether they stick around. They know the definitive rule of Trump’s gravitational pull. The idea is that if you deviate too much, you will be kicked out.
As expected, Carlson avoided escalation.
Instead, he declared his allegiance. He declared that he still “loves” Trump. He reminded the audience that Trump reshaped American politics.
Mr. Kerry and Mr. Logan may question the risks and dangers of war, but neither intends to launch a sustained attack on the president. Neither would dare tell Trump supporters to abandon him.
Temporary disagreements over President Trump’s reckless adventure in Iran will not lead to a permanent hiatus.
Even the most high-profile MAGA crooks realize that confronting Trump will invite retaliation and disaster. Their audiences overlap. Their influence thrives within the same ideological ecosystem.
Picking battles that you ultimately lose against the vengeful anchors of your ecosystem is rarely good business.
So MAGA is going through a bit of a turmoil right now. It will pass.
This is why the establishment media’s constant search for a dramatic MAGA split continues to produce standard results.
Not much has changed.
The same predictions emerge every time President Trump sparks outrage. This time the base rebels. This time, the Union will be divided.
This forecasting is a boring ritual. This ignores the fundamental nature of MAGA compacts. That connection is not rooted in a brief or a blueprint. It is a secular religion and the leaders are never wrong.
Myopic scribes mistake turmoil for destruction. They see the tension and want a divorce. Believers are not preoccupied with the logistics of war or the fickle logic of “America First.” They care about the men who gave them a voice.
Once the friction subsides, the skeptics will retreat. They have nowhere else to go. The undeniable magnetism of Trump’s fame and MAGA command pulls back most passive strays.
To depart permanently from that comfortable orbit means to disappear into a worthless existence. It’s a dark fate for a provocateur who has built a lucrative career, and it adds to President Trump’s ignorance, intolerance and anger.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of Al Jazeera.
