The isolation wing gained significant ground with Elon Musk’s rise in MAGA world. His $300 million donation to the Trump campaign in 2024 came with significant strings, including Trump’s picking Sen. JD Vance as his running mate. No surprise that Vance’s
world view has mirrored Musk’s: pro-Russian, anti- Ukraine, apathy to Iran and subtle hostility to Israel. The Musk-Vance constellation has sucked into its orbit other Trumpworld figures, includ- ing Carlson, Pete Hegseth, El- bridge Colby, Tulsi Gabbard, and others. It has been said Trump’s
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz was the first victim of the rise of the neo-isolation- ist group in the administration. Trump — who ordered the
strikes on Iran, has shown full support to Israel, and increas- ingly backs Ukraine’s efforts to defend itself — appears to be moving away from the Vance camp. The ascendancy of Sec- retary of State Rubio, who rep- resents a level-headed MAGA approach to foreign policy, is just one indication of where Trump himself is moving. Trump does not have an
easy job. Each group within the movement has a unique set of leaders, objectives, and values — and Trump’s job is to keep them all energized and aligned. Beyond geopolitical hot
spots, fissures in Trump’s co- alition have emerged over oth- er issues. One prime example: the lingering debate over con- vict Jeffrey Epstein’s client list after the Justice Department reversed itself. The DOJ now says the list does not exist, trig- gering widespread skepticism. Yet another flash point: The trial balloon Trump floated in
July at an Iowa rally supporting a deal to allow undocumented farm workers and hotel staff- ers to remain in the U.S. Kirk branded that “soft amnesty.” “If you want to break our co-
alition,” he declared, “go and push amnesty . . . that right there would be a complete col- lapse of everything that we have worked for.” Trump’s task, then, is to hold his disparate coalition
together, at least through the midterms. As Blackwell puts it, “The art form here is, can he master the fusion?” With the 2026 midterm
cycle almost here, any sign Trump’s political influence has waned would amount to a sig- nal flare rising up over the Po- tomac River. In the alternative universe known as “inside the Beltway,” the unforgiving truth is that a midterm political set-
Bad Idea: Trying to Out-MAGA Trump
President Donald Trump may emerge stronger than ever politically following his decision to attack Iran. Trump allies Chris LaCivita and pollster Tony Fabrizio have launched a super political action committee (PAC), MAGA Kentucky, in a bid to defeat one Trump antagonist, GOP Rep. Thomas Massie. In June Massie, the libertarian-leaning Republican from Kentucky, teamed up with California Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna to introduce a resolution in the House requiring congressional approval for any attack on Iran.
“Frankly, we
should have debated this . . . instead of staying on vacation and doing fundraisers and saying, ‘Oh well, the president’s got this under control, we’re going to cede our constitutional authority,’” Massie told Face the Nation. Massie’s dissent led
the president to unload both barrels via Truth Social, calling him a “pathetic LOSER,” “a BUM,” and a “simple- minded grandstander.” Sen. Thom Tillis, meanwhile, has decided to resign rather than face Trump’s MAGA faithful. The North Carolina
Republican said
Trump made “the right decision” in bombing Iran, but was one of only two GOP senators to oppose his One Big Beautiful Bill. Trump blasted him on social media for making a “BIG MISTAKE” and indicated he would support challengers to Tillis in the GOP primary. After Tillis
announced he would retire from Congress rather than endure a tough reelection battle, Trump called it “Great News!” on social media. The 47th president’s
clear message: Any Republican dissenting from his MAGA agenda can expect to pay for it. — D.P.
UNDER ATTACK Libertarian-leaning Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., may face a tough primary next year over his opposition to the president’s One Big Beautiful Bill and his strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Trump political advisers Chris LaCivita and pollster Tony Fabrizio have launched a super PAC directed at defeating Massie that’s already running a TV ad attacking the seven-term incumbent.
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