Exclusive polling data shows the president’s base overwhelmingly supports the killing of Qassem Soleimani, but some are wary of a deeper conflict
Republicans of all stripes are standing solidly in support of President Donald Trump’s decision to kill a top Iranian general—even though some believe it makes war more likely.
Iran’s cleric-led government has vowed revenge over the killing of Soleimani, who by some estimations was second in power only to the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Iranian regime has held massive processions in Soleimani’s honor in an attempt to show the depth of anger over his death at U.S. hands. And on Tuesday, Iran retaliated by sending a barrage of missiles at U.S. installations in Iraq, though early reports suggested no Americans were killed.
But the administration’s sanctions-heavy “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran—which also involves beefing up the U.S. troop presence in the Middle East—has led some Trump supporters to fear that the president will go against past pledges to avoid ground wars in that region. Right-wing social media agitator Mike Cernovich, an influential figure in pro-Trump online circles, critized the Syria attacks,the president “Donald Bush” in response to the 2018 strikes, an unflattering comparison to George W. Bush’s ill-fated Iraq invasion.
He, like other well-known Trump supporters, views the Soleimani killing as a justified retaliation for the deaths of Americans. Cernovich said he would vocally oppose further escalation.
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