Trump rules MAGA like a religious leader - Iran won't tear this cult apart
Its capture of the GOP also means old-school Republicans now float in the MAGA midst, singing from the same song sheet when it comes to the deification of Trump, but harbouring more traditional GOP views on policy, including geopolitics and foreign affairs.
So, someone like the long-serving South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who believes fervently in defending Ukraine and disarming Iran, has to perform the awkward dance of praising the leader while gently cajoling him to take stronger action against Moscow and Tehran.
Likewise for Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, who has suddenly become the poster boy for US-led regime change in Tehran after appearing on Carlson's program on Thursday (AEST). It was an ideal encapsulation of the wider MAGA debate, pitting the hawk's hawk, Cruz, against hardline isolationist and Putin sympathiser, Carlson.
A teaser clip of the appearance went viral, with Cruz unable to answer when asked for the population of Iran. 'You don't know the population of the country you seek to topple?' Carlson asked, incredulous.
It was a gotcha question, as Cruz later said, and irrelevant to the substance of the issue: Iran's ambitions for a nuclear weapon, and, in Cruz's telling, its plans to assassinate Trump. But in the MAGA universe, Carlson had landed a hit. And their broader conversation – about whether the Bible compelled them to defend Benjamin Netanyahu's Israel – also struck a MAGA fault line.
The relevance of the former Fox host may be questionable (Trump mocked him by saying he should get a TV show so that people might hear what he says), but Carlson remains a significant player in the ecosystem of MAGA activists and commentators like Jack Posobiec, Candace Owens, Laura Loomer and countless others.
If you don't follow US politics closely, you may not fully appreciate the extent of the MAGA media world, which runs the gamut from mainstream conservative (Fox) to a far-right fringe of YouTube streamers, podcasters and their guests. It's in these echo chambers that a lot of MAGA thought percolates.
When Trump called Carlson 'kooky' on Truth Social, Owens said the president had 'completely fractured his base'. She added that he was appeasing the same neocons who had opposed his nomination in the first place. 'Truly unbelievable,' she said.
Not everyone is so strident. Appearing on Bannon's War Room on Thursday (AEST), Posobiec – a former navy intelligence officer – pushed the commonly held theory that Trump is simply playing four dimensional chess, beyond the grasp of mere mortals.
'It seems to me that Trump could be pursuing a grand strategy whereby he secures peace in Ukraine and an end to the Iranian nuclear program in one fell swoop by making a deal through Iran to get to Russia,' Posobiec said. Interviewer Dave Brat concurred: 'That sounds right to me, and it sounds like President Trump to me.'
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, co-founder of political action group Turning Point USA, pleaded with the MAGA flock to keep the faith – including by turning off their phones, reading scripture and seeing friends.
'President Trump knows his base. Have some faith in his ability to handle this. His whole life has led to this moment,' Kirk said on X. 'We must trust Trump in this situation.'
Indeed, we soon heard from Trump that Carlson had called him to apologise for his remarks, which were 'too strong'. Sound familiar? Last week, Elon Musk phoned Trump to make amends for his many online outbursts amid the pair's spectacular falling out, and then began a grovelling public apology tour.
When you're the president – especially when you're this president, who rules his cult as a religious leader, and has compared himself to Jesus and the Pope – that is the kind of loyalty you can command. At least publicly, at least while you're still early in your term.
Remember, Trump's own vice-president, JD Vance, thought Trump was either a 'cynical asshole' or 'America's Hitler' in 2016. They all come around eventually.
'My supporters are for me,' Trump said on Thursday (AEST). 'I don't want to fight either, but if it's a choice between fighting and them having a nuclear weapon, you have to do what you have to do.
'Don't forget, we [the US] haven't been fighting. We add a certain amount of genius to everything, but we haven't been fighting.'
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If Trump does decide to conduct a strike against Iran, it will shock the MAGA movement deeply, but they will almost certainly get over it. Likewise, if he opts not to, and keeps pursuing the 'deal' he has always preferred, it won't necessarily be because the base said so.
'America First' is whatever Trump says it is. He told us so himself.
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Perth Now
39 minutes ago
- Perth Now
North Korea condemns US strike on Iran
North Korea says it strongly condemns the US strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities as a grave violation of a sovereign state's security interests and territorial rights, the North's state media reports. The United States and Israel are the culprits of the current tensions in the Middle East born out of Jerusalem's "ceaseless war moves and territorial expansion" accepted and encouraged by the West, North Korea's foreign ministry said. "(North Korea) strongly denounces the attack on Iran by the US which ... violently trampled down the territorial integrity and security interests of a sovereign state," the unnamed spokesperson said in a statement carried by KCNA news agency on Monday. "The just international community should raise the voice of unanimous censure and rejection against the US and Israel's confrontational acts," the statement said. Iran and nuclear-armed North Korea have maintained friendly ties and have been suspected for decades of military co-operation including in developing ballistic missiles. A now-defunct panel of experts monitoring UN sanctions said in 2021 the two countries had resumed co-operation on long-range missile development projects, including the transfer of critical parts. "Pyongyang could provide important assistance in helping Iran reconstitute destroyed missile production facilities, including at new sites to avoid scrutiny, perhaps," said Ankit Panda, of the US-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Whether either country would be interested in substantively co-operating on any efforts to rebuild or accelerate Iran's nuclear weapons program is less certain, given the political and military sensitivities over such technology, he said. "There are certain matters pertaining to weapons design that the North Koreans would not want to proliferate because once in Iran, they could be discovered by the United States and potentially assist the US in undermining its deterrent," Panda said. However, Pyongyang has substantive experience in weaponisation and could be able to assist in the non-fissile components of a nuclear bomb, such as the conventional explosives, he added. North Korea has taken unprecedented steps in the past year to deepen military assistance to Russia, another partner of Iran, by sending thousands of troops as well as ballistic missiles and other weapons for use in fighting Ukraine, according to US, Ukrainian, and other intelligence sources.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
The Strait of Hormuz is crucial for global oil supply. What could a blockage from Iran mean for Australian fuel prices?
As the world waits to see if Iran will retaliate against US strikes on its nuclear facilities, concern is growing its next move may send oil and petrol prices soaring around the world. The Iranian parliament has reportedly voted to block the Strait of Hormuz, with a final decision to cut off the crucial choke point for oil shipping now resting with Iran's leaders. Here's how a blockade would impact Australian oil supply and what we could expect to pay at the bowser. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow stretch of water and the world's most important oil transit choke-point. It's the only marine entry way into the Persian Gulf. Iran occupies its northern shore with Oman and the United Arab Emirates to the south. At its narrowest point, it is approximately: During the Iran-Iraq conflict between 1980-1988, both countries targeted commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf, but Hormuz was never completely closed. The Strait of Hormuz is crucial for global oil supply. Roughly 20 per cent of the world's oil consumption — 20 million barrels per day — and 25 per cent of global liquefied natural gas trade flows through there every day. Between the start of 2022 and May 2025, somewhere between 17.8 million and 20.8 million barrels of crude, condensate and fuels flowed through the strait daily, data from analytics firm Vortexa shows. Some of the world's most important oil producers, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates export all of their oil in tankers through the strait. Speaking with ABC NewsRadio, independent economist Saul Eslake said although Iran's plans for the waterway remained unclear, a disruption could have global ramifications. "If Iran were to block the Strait of Hormuz or indeed make credible threats to block it, it could act as a deterrent if not a formidable obstacle to getting a significant proportion of the world's oil from where it's produced to where it's needed," Mr Eslake said. Iran does not exclusively control the strait. While it borders the northern side and controls some islands within it, the strait is also bordered by Oman and the United Arab Emirates on the southern side. Any attempts to bar passage through the strait would likely be met with a strong response. Ships with the US Fifth Fleet, along with other Western navies, patrol the region at all times. According to Iranian state media, Iran's Supreme National Security Council will make the final decision on whether to close the strait after parliament reportedly approved the measure. We haven't got that outcome yet. Lawmaker and Revolutionary Guard Commander Esmail Kosari told the Young Journalist Club that closing the Strait was on the agenda and "will be done whenever necessary". US Vice-President JD Vance said closing the channel would be economically "suicidal" for the Iranian government. "Their entire economy runs through the Strait of Hormuz. If they want to destroy their own economy and cause disruptions in the world, I think that would be their decision," he told NBC. "But why would they do that? I don't think it makes any sense." Australia imports the equivalent of about 90 per cent of its refined oil needs. This includes finished products such as bowser fuel. According to the NRMA, Australia's biggest sources of refined products are Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei. Where do they get their oil? Most of them get it mainly from the Middle East. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), 84 per cent of crude oil that moved through the strait in 2024 went to Asian markets. They include China, India, Japan and South Korea. Australia relies on all four of these countries for refined oil (see table above). This is where current geopolitical tensions come into play. A blockage of the Strait of Hormuz could see a spike in oil prices flow directly to the pump, but experts say prices are unlikely to rise in the same manner as it did in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in early 2022. Most likely. NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury says there's "absolutely no doubt" that if Iran attempts to close the strait it will have a "significant effect on prices". Since the war started over a week ago, the terminal oil gate price in Australia increased by about 8 cents per litre. Mr Khoury expects this to be gradually passed on to motorists across the country. "What it means for the capital cities that are currently experiencing a fall in petrol prices, is that they won't likely fall as far, or for as long as we thought they would." If the strait is shut down, Mr Eslake wouldn't be surprised if petrol prices surpassed $2.30 per litre. But Mr Khoury and Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association CEO Mark McKenzie agree that prices likely won't rise in the same manner after Russia invaded Ukraine. "The current trading price this morning, $US78 barrel, is still below the oil price this time last year, and well below the price when the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in early March 2022 at $US128 barrel," Mr McKenzie said. "In fact, just six weeks ago, much of the media was correctly reporting that global oil prices had fallen to the lowest level in more than four years. "The clear message here is that oil trading markets are learning to cope with the rising level of geopolitical uncertainty which is giving increasing price volatility." Possibly mid-August. But Mr McKenzie says this is only if the oil price climbs sharply. Currently, it's risen by around 10 per cent. "This higher priced oil has to be refined and then shipped to global markets which usually takes around two weeks. "So, in effect, the price impact could be felt from mid-August."
SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
Albanese says Australia supports US strikes on Iran, but insists action was 'unilateral'
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called upon Iran to "abandon any nuclear weapons program". Source: AAP / Lukas Coch Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said Australia supports the United States' attack on nuclear facilities in Iran, in his first public comments in response to the strikes over the weekend. The prime minister echoed Foreign Minister Penny Wong's comments from earlier on Monday when she said "Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon" and that Australia "supports action to prevent that". "The US action was directed at specific sites central to Iran's nuclear program. We don't want escalation and a full-scale war. We continue to call for dialogue and for diplomacy," Albanese said. He called on Iran to "come to the table and abandon any nuclear weapons program". The prime minister was also asked to confirm whether or not Australia provided any military support to the US for its attack on Iran, or if facilities such as Pine Gap — Australia's joint intelligence surveillance base with the US in the Northern Territory — played a role. "Well, we don't talk about intelligence matters, but we confirm, of course, that this was a unilateral action by the United States," he said. Albanese was asked multiple times to confirm there was "no Australian involvement" whatsoever in the attack, each time replying that it was "unilateral action taken by the United States". US President Donald Trump said the unprecedented strikes had "totally obliterated" Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities, while Iranian officials downplayed both the damage and loss of previously enriched uranium. Israel — which started striking Iran on 13 June — declared its support for the US attack, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu describing it as a "bold, righteous, and historic" action. Iran has strongly criticised the attack and said it won't go unanswered. On Monday, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said the US "must receive a response ", while Iran's ambassador to the United Nations said the US had "waged a war" against it under an "absurd pretext". Speaking on ABC radio's RN program on Monday morning, Wong said the world had agreed "Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon" and that Australia "supports action to prevent that". Israel has for decades warned Iran was developing a nuclear weapon. Iran has consistently denied that claim, saying its uranium enrichment program is exclusively for peaceful purposes such as energy. International assessments have found no evidence Iran has an active nuclear weaponisation program, and it is a signatory to the UN's Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Israel is not a signatory to the treaty, and is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons itself, but has never confirmed or denied this. Shortly before Israel launched strikes against Iran on 13 June, the UN nuclear watchdog said Iran was in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in 20 years, saying it had failed to provide the agency with "full and timely co-operation regarding undeclared nuclear material and activities". Wong said despite Australia supporting the US strikes, the "key question is what happens next", and urged de-escalation. "Australia says, like so many other countries, we do not want escalation and a full-scale war, and we continue to call for dialogue and diplomacy," she said. Wong was asked if her calls for diplomacy extended to demanding Israel stop its attacks on Iran. "We have seen strikes, we have seen what the US has done, we have seen the destruction, or the debilitation, of these nuclear facilities. Now is the time for diplomacy. Now is the time for de-escalation, and ... that call is to all parties," she said. Wong also appeared on Channel 9's Today program, where she said the US had not made any requests of Australia regarding action in Iran, and wouldn't speculate on the future. She wouldn't say whether or not Pine Gap, Australia's joint intelligence surveillance base with the US in the Northern Territory, played a role in the US strikes on the weekend. Wong said more than 4,000 Australians had registered for help to leave the Middle East — around 2,900 in Iran, and 1,300 in Israel. Australian officials have been deployed to Iran's border with Azerbaijan to assist Australians who were able to cross. "People have to make a judgement about how risky that is. But we urge them to move if they believe they can do so safely," she told ABC's RN. "In relation to Israel, the airspace is closed. There is some prospect of a window of airspace opening. Obviously, that is highly dependent on the situation on the ground. And we are seeking to try and arrange a facilitated flight in the event that the airspace opens." Andrew Hastie, the Opposition's acting foreign affairs spokesperson, reiterated the Coalition supports the US strikes on Iran, telling ABC's RN he was "glad to see that Penny Wong has essentially endorsed our opinion" and "glad we have bipartisanship on this". "Do we support the US in their strikes? Yes, we do. Why? Because we don't want to see Iran getting a nuclear weapon. "We support those strikes, and now we want to see dialogue and diplomacy." — With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press
