An American’s viral outburst in an interview with NBC News reminds of the risks taken by Trump in attacking Iran.
As the midterms approach, not all signs are favorable for Donald Trump. His intervention in Iran could backfire during the midterm elections in November. Elected on promises of prioritizing peace and protectionism, the American president has ultimately entangled his country in a costly war in the Middle East, leading to soaring fuel prices.
Could this anger a part of his electorate? The question arises a few months before the midterm elections, especially as a video published on Tuesday, March 17 by NBC News has gone viral. It has garnered over 3.3 million views, thanks in part to being shared by the “Republicans against Trump” account, made up of Republicans opposed to the president.
Filming at a gas station in Pennsylvania – a crucial swing state won by Donald Trump in 2024 – the journalist approaches a female driver with his microphone, as seen in the video below. “If you could talk to the president, what would you say to him?” asks the journalist. Seizing the moment, the American woman looks into the camera and boldly states, “You are a worthless piece of ****.”
The driver then expresses regret for voting for Donald Trump three times – “it’s my fault, I clearly was stupid [to do so]” – and laments the rise in fuel prices as well as the American intervention in the Middle East.
The intervention in Iran does not sit well with some radical MAGA supporters.
Testimonies like these are not incidental, as they reflect criticisms coming from within, including the extreme right MAGA supporters who helped bring Donald Trump to power. This segment of voters reproaches Trump for not adhering to the “America First” mantra incessantly repeated during his campaign.
The war in the Middle East has also garnered criticisms from Democrats towards Donald Trump. The costly intervention in Iran is especially condemned since Congress was not consulted and the Republican administration struggles to justify its decision to attack the Islamic Republic.
Despite facing heavy criticism, the American president still has supporters among his Trumpist base, willing to pay higher fuel prices in the name of national security.
“In the long term, this [war] will help us because if they [Iran] obtain nuclear weapons, we might not exist in a few years,” asserts a man interviewed, echoing the debatable and contested narrative among Trumpists about the imminent threat that Tehran poses to Washington. It remains to be seen if this narrative will hold until the midterms or if the division within the American right will deepen, potentially costing the Republicans their majority in Congress.
