When President Donald Trump on Nov. 15 withdrew his support for far-right Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who had distinguished himself as one of his most loyal allies, many dismissed it as just another episode of political theater. But this moment marks something far more important than a personal rift. This reveals a deepening civil war within the Republican Party over who will lead the post-Trump conservative movement and the true meaning of “America First.”
The issue of division is no longer just an immigration or economic issue. It is foreign policy, and Israel is at the center of it. For the first time in decades, Republicans are publicly fighting over whether Washington’s unconditional support for Israel is truly in U.S. interests. This battle is reshaping America’s right wing and could redefine America’s engagement with the Middle East. For countries in the region, especially those seeking a just peace for Palestine, this division provides a valuable opportunity to address the changing political landscape in Washington.
Post-Trump Struggle: MAGA vs. America First
Marjorie Taylor Greene’s career reflects the trajectory of the movement she helped found. She became famous as one of Trump’s most loyal supporters and a symbol of MAGA populism and anti-establishment anger. But as the movement matured, Greene rebranded herself as a champion of “America First” and positioned herself for a future beyond Trump’s personal shadow. Her break with Trump suggests more than a political conflict. This represents a deeper ideological struggle between two emerging factions: MAGA supporters who see Trump as an essential leader of the movement, and America First nationalists who want to build on his populist legacy while pursuing a more independent, non-interventionist foreign policy.
Driven by Christian nationalism and cultural resentment, the MAGA faction maintains close ties to the pro-Israel factions that have dominated Republican politics for decades. Its leaders, including Mike Johnson and Lindsey Graham, position Israel not only as a strategic ally but as a sacred cause. Their rhetoric blends religion and geopolitics, viewing Israel’s survival as central to Christian prophecy and the understanding of Western civilization. Meanwhile, the America First camp is questioning these assumptions. Figures like Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, and more recently Greene have argued that the United States should stop acting as the world’s policeman. They believe that endless wars and foreign entanglements have depleted America’s resources and undermined its moral credibility. For them, unconditional support for Israel contradicts the core principle of nationalism: that American interests come first. This disagreement is tearing at the foundations of the Republican Party. It is no longer a debate between “hawks” and “doves” but between those who see American power as a means of world domination and those who see it as a burden.
Israel as a fault line
For decades, support for Israel was the single issue that united Republicans and Democrats alike. It was untouchable and protected by a powerful lobby and bipartisan consensus. But the war in Gaza and the growing humanitarian uprising are beginning to undermine that unity, especially on the right. America First sees Israel as another example of Washington’s costly and unilateral alliances. They argue that sending billions of dollars in aid to Israel while American infrastructure is crumbling violates the same logic that opposed funding to Ukraine. Their stance is driven not by sympathy for the Palestinians but by skepticism of what they call the “foreign policy establishment,” a network of defense contractors, think tanks, and lobbyists who profit from perpetual war.
However, MAGA conservatives see Israel as part of identity politics. Evangelical leaders and Christian Zionists wield significant influence in Republican circles, positioning support for Israel as a matter of faith. Their message to voters is moral and emotional, not strategic. To stand with Israel is to stand with God. This clash of ideologies is becoming increasingly public. When figures like Greene and Carlson question the U.S.-Israel alliance, they are denounced by their fellow conservatives as traitors to the cause. And Greene’s recent decision to describe Israel’s attack on Gaza as a “genocide” (pro-Israel lobbyists have denounced it as a “betrayal of American values”) shows how sharply this once-unthinkable criticism has now entered mainstream Republican discourse. Their message resonates with younger, more skeptical Republican voters who are tired of world wars and foreign aid. Detailed findings from a March 2025 Pew poll show that among Republicans under 50, negative views of Israel rose from 35 percent in 2022 to 50 percent in 2025, a dramatic 15 percentage point change. This marks a historic transformation for a party that was once characterized by unconditional loyalty to the State of Israel.
The end of Republican foreign policy consensus
The Republican Party is no longer guided by the old neoconservative worldview that was dominant under George W. Bush. Its doctrine, which justifies endless wars in the name of democracy and security, has lost its legitimacy among conservatives. The rise of President Trump in 2016 was the first major revolt against it. But even as Trump rhetorically attacked “forever wars,” he remained personally loyal to Israel and the Christian Zionist stronghold. His decisions to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights solidified his standing among pro-Israel conservatives. But it also revealed the contradictions of his nationalism. The rhetoric is America First, but the reality is that it remains dependent on many of the same foreign lobbies.
Now that President Trump’s influence is weakening, these contradictions are coming to the fore. Figures like Greene and Bannon see themselves as the next generation of nationalist leaders, determined to separate America First from Trump’s cult of personality and the global commitments that defined previous Republican administrations. This struggle is already reshaping the party’s identity. While the MAGA camp is clinging to President Trump’s charisma and evangelical base, America First is seeking to anchor the movement in anti-interventionism, economic protectionism, and skepticism about Israeli influence in Washington. For decades, Republican candidates competed to prove who was more loyal to Israel. In the post-Trump era, the two countries may fight over who benefits less.
What this means for the Middle East
For Middle Eastern countries, this republican divide presents both risks and opportunities. Risk lies in unpredictability. Depending on who controls the White House, the United States could oscillate between isolationism and aggression. But the opportunity lies in the growing number of American conservatives who are beginning to question unconditional military aid to Israel. This moment presents a strategic opportunity for Arabs and Muslims, both in the region and in the diaspora, to join the new voices of the American right. Historically, lobbying for the Republican Party has been limited to formal diplomacy and lobbying focused on security and trade. You now have an opportunity to shape the conversation around your values and interests. Joining the America First movement does not mean supporting its broad nationalist policies. It means recognizing that some on the American right are finally beginning to question the logic of endless military aid and intervention in the Middle East. That skepticism could be matched, even temporarily, by calls for justice and peace in Palestine. Middle Eastern countries, civil society organizations, and advocates should seize this opportunity to communicate directly with these emerging powers. They can emphasize how ending unconditional aid to Israel benefits not only the Palestinians but also American taxpayers and global stability. A discourse centered on the common good, reducing conflict, ending endless wars, and promoting fair diplomacy has the potential to resonate with voters across ideological lines.
A strategic moment for change
The Republican Party’s division over Israel is not just an internal power struggle. This reflects a broader rethinking of America’s global role. As the United States turns inward, the myths that have underpinned American foreign policy for decades are beginning to crumble. This is a historic moment for the Middle East. The bipartisan consensus that has protected Israel for generations is weakening. Fissures have first appeared within the Republican Party, where nationalism and skepticism about foreign ties are reshaping political priorities. If Arabs, Muslims, and pro-Palestinian allies understand these changes and engage them wisely, they could push U.S. politics toward a more balanced and just approach to the region. The fight between MAGA and America First could decide not only the future of the Republican Party, but the future of U.S. foreign policy. The question is whether the Middle East will continue to passively observe this change, or whether it will seek to use it to promote peace, justice, and self-determination in the region.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial policy.
