Don Jr has not said anything publicly about his reported oppositionDonald Trump Jr, US President Donald Trump’s eldest son, privately opposed the war with Iran from its outset, reportedly believing Washington should stay out of another conflict in the Middle East. Trump Jr, who has long been sceptical of foreign military intervention, made his opposition known to his father, two people who spoke directly with him about the conflict told the Atlantic.

“Don has kept his views on the subject private, as he would never publicly break with his dad on an issue like this, but I can’t imagine anyone who knows Don would be surprised by his personal views on the subject,” a person close to Trump Jr told The Atlantic. Trump Jr’s reported opposition contrasts with the military campaign launched by his father alongside Israel against Tehran.

During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump Jr had backed his father’s promise to keep the US out of another Middle East war. “Remember when they said Trump would get us into a full-blown war with Iran?”

“Times like these should make us all realize how lucky we were to have Trump, his strength and his resolve,” he added. The Atlantic reported that Trump Jr’s opposition reflects his long-standing scepticism of foreign intervention.

He was also particularly close to Charlie Kirk, the late conservative activist who had broken with the Trump administration to oppose the Iran war. “Don Jr.

is the most MAGA of them all,” one of the people who discussed his opposition to the conflict told the publication. MAGA divide over Iran warThe conflict has exposed divisions within the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement over the meaning of Trump’s “America First” agenda.

The divide pits non-interventionists, who believe foreign wars divert resources from domestic priorities, against hawks who argue that the US should use its military power more aggressively against adversaries. Trump Jr’s reported position is part of a broader debate within the president’s political base over whether the war runs counter to the promises that helped Trump win the 2024 election.

Doubts about the conflict have also emerged within the administration. Vice President JD Vance had reportedly voiced private opposition in the past during deliberations over whether the US should join Israel’s military campaign.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were also sceptical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s initial proposal in February for a regime-change operation, particularly one conducted through air strikes, according to The Atlantic. Separately, Trump opposed a proposed Israeli offensive against Iran ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections, as his administration faces mounting economic and political pressure over the ongoing conflict, according to a Financial Times report.