Iran plan flummoxes some Trump media allies

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▪ MAGA media allies question Iran plan

▪ Standstill on voting requirements bill

▪ Trump travels to Kentucky to oppose Massie

▪ Mullin’s immigration views in spotlight

President Trump‘s push for continued military action in Iran is causing a rupture in the conservative media ecosystem, with a number of prominent allies vocally splitting with the president on the conflict.

The war has caused a heated battle in right-leaning media circles, with commentators like Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly emerging as chief critics of the U.S.-Israeli operation, while others have backed it.

Joe Rogan on Tuesday become the latest high-profile figure to add his voice to the chorus of those questioning the Trump administration’s strikes, suggesting the president had “betrayed” his supporters.

“I mean, this is why a lot of people feel betrayed, right? He ran on ‘no more wars, end these stupid, senseless wars,’ and then we have one that we can’t even really clearly define why we did it,” Rogan said on his podcast.

Conservative commentator Ann Coulter also posted on social media platform X this week that the war “does not make one American safer.”

Still, a number of other major voices on the right have defended Operation Epic Fury, The Hill’s Dominick Mastrangelo reports.

Fox News hosts like Sean Hannity and Brian Kilmeade have pushed hard-line positions on the war, while The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board has urged Trump against ending the campaign due to “short term economic discomfort” from rising oil prices.

The debate comes amid rising questions over the administration’s broader strategy with Iran.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday offered the latest twist in the administration’s shifting explanations for both its motivations behind the offensive and its ultimate goal. He told reporters during a press briefing that the conflict is “quite contained” even as the U.S. continues to reduce its staff at embassies and consulates in the region.

But he said at the same time the largest bombing campaign was yet to come.

That came just a day after Trump told reporters the Iran “excursion” would be finished “very soon,” though he declined to specify an exact timeline and said it wouldn’t be in the coming days.

The Hill’s Julia Manchester reports the back-and-forth is raising uncertainty and questions from home and abroad about the exit strategy, which has remained undefined.

The public seems to be losing its patience as the conflict stretches on.

While some polls initially showed a mixed picture of the country’s support for Trump’s handling of the situation and decision to attack Iran, recent surveys have shown the public increasingly turning against his decisionmaking.

An NPR/PBS News/Marist poll released Friday showed 56 percent of respondents said they oppose the military action, while 44 percent said they support it.

The stakes of the war are also expected to rise.

In addition to the seven killed American service members, about 140 U.S. service members have been injured since hostilities began more than a week ago, the Pentagon said Tuesday. A spokesperson noted most of the injuries were minor and most service members have returned to duty.

The Defense Department also went through $5.6 billion worth of munitions during the first two days of the operation.

Carlson had reportedly lobbied Trump against striking Iran, while Kelly pointed the finger at influential voices in Trump’s ear — namely Hannity and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

“I mean, Sean Hannity is Lindsey Graham by a different name. It’s amazing to me to watch them cheerlead this,” she said on her show Tuesday, referring to the seven U.S. service members who have been killed in Iran’s retaliatory strikes and the Iranian girls’ school that was destroyed reportedly by a U.S. missile attack.

Graham, who has long had a reputation as one of the strongest war hawks in Congress, has been among the biggest supporters of Trump’s action. He called on Saudi Arabia to join the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on Monday, arguing it’s a “fight of mutual interest.”

Republicans who have been supportive of the operation have expressed concerns that the conflict could become a political liability for the GOP heading into the midterms, where the party is already expected to face hurdles in keeping control of Congress.

▪ The Hill: Trump seeks to lower oil prices through pressure.

▪ The Hill: Steve Witkoff says Russia denied sharing intelligence with Iran.

3 Things to Know Today

‎Trump threatened to escalate attacks on Iran if reporting is accurate that Tehran is placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz. He said the U.S. military has destroyed 16 inactive Iranian mine-laying boats.

Prosecutors at the Department of Justice are facing rising pressure to bring charges against former CIA Director John Brennan as cases against other perceived Trump opponents have failed to gain traction, CNN reported.

The next consumer price index report is set to be released this morning, giving a picture of inflation just before the conflict with Iran began. It is expected to show only a small increase in prices before energy costs spiked.

SAVE ACT STANDOFF: Congressional Republicans are wrestling with the path forward in trying to pass the SAVE America Act, a bill that would require proof of citizenship when voting. The president has placed it as his top legislative priority with the midterm elections on the horizon.

Trump has called for Republicans to change Senate rules to reestablish a talking filibuster, which would force Democrats to speak on the floor continuously to prevent a final vote on passing the legislation. He reiterated his declaration that he would not sign any other piece of legislation until the act passes while speaking to House Republicans at their three-day issues retreat Monday.

But Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) poured cold water on Trump’s plans Tuesday, insisting that “the votes aren’t there” to change the Senate’s filibuster rules. He said he plans to bring the legislation to the floor next week, but its prospects are dim without changing the filibuster.

“The votes aren’t there, one, to nuke the filibuster, and the votes aren’t there for a talking filibuster. It’s just a reality,” Thune said. “I’m the person who has to deliver sometimes the not-so-good news that the math doesn’t add up, but those are the facts and there’s no getting around it.”

Trump has added pressure on Thune and Senate Republicans through the heated primary runoff between Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Despite some reports that Trump plans to endorse Cornyn, whom national Republicans view as a much safer general election candidate, the president has yet to follow through.

The Hill’s Alexander Bolton reports that Thune acknowledged he was concerned about the possibility of Trump being slow to back Cornyn because of the disagreement over the filibuster.

“Yeah, I mean, that’s probably not a linkage that is in anybody’s best interest because voting on the SAVE America Act is something we can do, but passage is not guaranteed,” Thune said. “You have to make political decisions independent of what the final disposition of that might be on the floor.”

At least so far, the leverage Trump may be asserting doesn’t seem to be making a difference with Thune’s view of the situation.

MEANWHILE, ON THE HOUSE SIDE: House Republicans are coming out of their retreat today looking to craft their own legislative agenda through the rest of the year after already passing the SAVE America Act.

The House GOP is seeking to push through a second massive spending package through the reconciliation process, which would only require a simple majority to pass in the Senate, to try to strengthen their economic messaging ahead of the midterms, The Hill’s Sudiksha Kochi reports.

But accomplishing this won’t be easy, with a tight timeline and razor-thin House Republican majority.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) also raised the idea of using the reconciliation process to target what he described as waste, fraud and abuse in Democratic-led states.

Trump had pressured Johnson to turn to reconciliation last month during and after his State of the Union address, saying he wanted new personal and corporate tax cuts.

▪ The Hill: Johnson says Iran funding bill ‘inevitable.’

▪ The Hill: Senate clears hurdle on bipartisan housing bill.

TRUMP TO KENTUCKY: The president is traveling to northern Kentucky today for an official visit, but political observers will be on the lookout for any attention he gives to the hometown House member, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.).

Massie is a relatively rare detractor of Trump within the GOP, splitting with him on key issues such as tariffs and the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Most recently, the congressman bucked the president in voting for an unsuccessful resolution aimed at restricting Trump’s war powers in Iran.

Trump has sharply criticized Massie for years, calling him names including “loser” and “moron.” But he’s stepped up his attention on ousting Massie this cycle, having endorsed his primary opponent, former Navy Seal Ed Gallrein.

Trump is visiting a packaging plant in Cincinnati before speaking in Hebron, Ky., in Massie’s district. The president hasn’t been shy about speaking out against Massie, and the visit will be an optimal time to cast a negative spotlight on his adversary.

▪ The Hill: Trump seeks to topple GOP foe in Kentucky.

RUNOFF COMING: The race to fill former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-Ga.) vacant House seat will go to a runoff after no candidate secured a majority of the vote Tuesday.

Republican Clay Fuller, who received Trump’s endorsement, and Democrat Shawn Harris will face each other in a runoff scheduled for next month.

More than a dozen candidates from both parties competed on the same ballot in the first round Tuesday, making the chances of one candidate winning outright unlikely.

Harris was the Democratic nominee for the seat in 2024, losing to Greene by nearly 30 points in the solidly Republican district.

Fuller will be the clear favorite in the district, and he will help give House Republicans a bit more breathing room in their narrow majority in the chamber if he wins. But the runoff means they will have to wait a few more weeks.

▪ The Hill: Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) fends off primary challenger.

TURNING TO RESERVES: The International Energy Agency (IEA) has reportedly proposed what would be the largest release of oil reserves in its history to reduce the soaring cost of oil since the conflict began.

The Wall Street Journal reported the release would be 400 million barrels of oil, more than double the current record of 182 million released in 2022 following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The IEA is expected to debate the proposal Wednesday, and it will be adopted if none of the 32 member countries object.

But officials told the Journal it could be delayed if just one country raises opposition.

The outlet noted past releases of reserves have had mixed results, with the 2022 release initially leading to a jump in oil prices before helping bring them down.

BONDI MOVES: Attorney General Pam Bondi has moved to a military base in the Washington, D.C., area after facing threats from drug cartels and critics of her handling of the Epstein files, The New York Times reported.

People familiar with the situation told the Times that she moved from an apartment in the city over threats that federal law enforcement has flagged. The threats escalated following the capture and prosecution of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January.

Bondi is just the most recent administration official to move into military facilities or near the capital after facing threats. Others who have relocated include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Hegseth.

WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT: The Social Security Administration’s internal watchdog is looking into a complaint alleging a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee had access to two sensitive databases and planned to share the information with a private employer, The Washington Post reported.

The agency’s inspector general is investigating and has already notified members of Congress about the complaint, according to a letter sent to the leaders of four congressional committees that the Post reviewed.

The complaint alleges a former DOGE software engineer told co-workers that he possessed two restricted databases of citizens’ information and had at least one on a thumb drive. The databases include records for more than 500 million Americans, living and dead, the Post reported.

The Government Accountability Office has also been conducting its own audit of DOGE’s access to data, according to the outlet.

The president will participate in executive time at 8 a.m. He will depart the White House en route to Hebron, Ky. He will visit Thermo Fisher Scientific over the Ohio border in Cincinnati at 2:30 p.m. and participate in a TV interview at 3:05 p.m. He will participate in a podcast interview in Hebron at 4 p.m. and deliver remarks at 4:25 p.m. He will return to the White House later.

The Senate will meet at 10 a.m.

The House is out today.

MULLIN IN FOCUS: Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R), the president’s nominee to succeed Noem atop the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is set to receive widespread attention as the Senate moves toward potentially confirming him to Trump’s Cabinet.

If confirmed, Mullin would take over as DHS secretary at a critical time for the department, which is still weathering a shutdown amid the broader battle over the administration’s immigration enforcement practices.

Mullin has teased some possible changes in DHS operations, though he has been a consistent supporter of Trump’s moves on immigration, The Hill’s Rebecca Beitsch reports.

He hasn’t yet given details about any changes he would like to see, but he also didn’t rule out making shifts in DHS’s approach.

Democrats have largely been skeptical of Mullin and maintained they want to see more changes to the department than just a new leader. But Republicans have widely rallied around him, making his path toward confirmation look promising.

▪ Fox News: Airports say to arrive four hours early amid DHS shutdown.

▪ NBC News: Trump has asked about Corey Lewandowski’s role in ad campaign.

INSULT REVIVED: Trump branded Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as the “future Governor of Canada” in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, reviving an insult he often hurled at Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau.

Trump held a tense relationship with Trudeau before the latter stepped down as prime minister last year, and that has proven true at times of his relationship with Carney as well. The president repeatedly joked throughout 2025 about the U.S. adding Canada as the 51st state, though before Tuesday hadn’t referred to it in a while.

“I’m working with Governor Gretchen Whitmer on trying to save The Great Lakes from the rather violent and destructive Asian Carp, which is rapidly taking over Lake Michigan, and all of the beautiful surrounds,” Trump said on Truth Social.

“I’ll be asking other Governors to join into this fight, including those of Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, New York and, of course, the future Governor of Canada, Mark Carney, who I know will be happy to contribute to this worthy cause,” he continued.

The relationship between Trump and Carney has seemingly worsened recently, especially as Trump revoked an invitation for Canada to join his Board of Peace over its opposition to the U.S. acquiring Greenland. Relations also eroded after a speech Carney gave at the World Economic Forum in January, during which he referred to a “rupture” of the world order and called on “middle powers” to unify.

Carney initially backed the U.S. strikes on Iran but later expressed some regret, saying they appear to be “inconsistent with international law.”

▪ The Hill: Carney calls shots fired at U.S. consulate ‘reprehensible.’

Shutdowns just stop paychecks, they really don’t shut government down, Everett Kelley writes in The Hill.

Expect tragedy if a Trump-inspired uprising fails in Iran, Greg Wallance writes in The Hill.

And finally … The president has appointed Erika Kirk, the head of the conservative group Turning Point USA and widow of activist Charlie Kirk, to the Air Force Academy’s Board of Visitors.

Erika Kirk replaces her late husband on the 16-member board responsible for making recommendations to the secretary of Defense for changes at the Air Force Academy. Other members of the board include Mullin and Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.).

The board didn’t announce Kirk’s appointment, but the White House said Trump made the “perfect choice” in selecting her. Kirk is the latest in a string of allies that Trump has appointed to boards of visitors at the country’s military academies.

Charlie Kirk, who was appointed to the board last March and attended one meeting in August, was assassinated six months ago from Tuesday while speaking at Utah Valley University.

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