Proud Boys Warn: Trump Risks Losing Our Support If He Pushes for War With Iran
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In a surprising turn that underscores growing fractures within segments of Donald Trump’s once-loyal support base, leaders of the far-right group Proud Boys have issued a warning: if the former president escalates military conflict with Iran, he risks losing their backing in the upcoming presidential race.
The declaration, issued via a statement on the group’s social media channels and echoed in interviews with various far-right media outlets, marks one of the strongest public rebukes Trump has received from a group that once staunchly defended him, even in his most controversial moments.
A Shocking Shift Among Loyalists
For years, the Proud Boys have been among Trump’s most visible and vocal supporters. From rallies to protests to the January 6th Capitol riots, members frequently aligned themselves with the former president’s nationalist and anti-establishment rhetoric.
But the recent escalation of tensions between the U.S. and Iran — fueled by Trump’s praise for military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and his tough-on-Iran rhetoric — has pushed even some of his most radical allies to express discomfort.
“We supported Trump because he stood against the endless wars of the globalist machine,” said Proud Boys spokesperson Gabriel Harrison in a livestream on Monday. “If he drags America into another Middle East war, then he’s no different from the politicians he once criticized.”
The Roots of Discontent
The Proud Boys’ frustration stems from what they perceive as a betrayal of Trump’s America First promises. In his 2016 campaign, Trump famously lambasted previous administrations for engaging in costly foreign wars that, he argued, drained American resources and blood.
During his presidency, Trump often touted his resistance to launching new wars — a stance that endeared him to isolationist elements on both the far-right and parts of the libertarian movement.
However, his recent hawkish comments about Iran, coupled with support for targeted strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, have led many within the Proud Boys and similar circles to accuse him of backtracking.
“His base didn’t elect him to become another war hawk,” Harrison continued. “We don’t want our brothers, our sons, and our neighbors dying for foreign conflicts that have nothing to do with protecting America’s borders.”
Social Media Erupts With Backlash
Following Trump’s televised praise for the strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure last week — actions undertaken by the U.S. military in response to alleged Iranian provocations — Proud Boys-affiliated channels on Telegram, Gab, and X (formerly Twitter) exploded with outrage.
One widely shared post read: “If Trump starts a war with Iran, he’s not our guy anymore. We don’t fight for Israel. We fight for America.” Another echoed, “We didn’t sign up for neocon wars. If Trump goes down that path, we walk.”
Many comments expressed a mix of anger and disappointment, portraying the potential Iran conflict as a betrayal of Trump’s anti-interventionist stance.
Trump’s Dilemma: Base Divided
This brewing tension places Trump in a politically precarious position. While mainstream Republican hawks have praised the military action as a necessary step in containing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, segments of his grassroots base are expressing deep reservations.
Political analyst Dr. Elaine Foster from the Brookings Institution commented, “Trump has always walked a tightrope between the traditional conservative establishment — which tends to be pro-military and pro-intervention — and his more populist, anti-establishment supporters, including the Proud Boys. This situation is testing how far he can push one side without losing the other.”
According to Dr. Foster, the growing split reveals how fragile the coalition that propelled Trump to the presidency in 2016 actually is. “When foreign policy decisions clash with domestic political identities, you start to see these cracks.”
Internal Divisions Surface
Not all within the Proud Boys are united in their opposition. Some factions appear willing to tolerate limited military actions if framed as protecting American interests.
“Iran has been provoking us for decades,” said one member on an encrypted chat, requesting anonymity. “If Trump sends a message but doesn’t go full invasion mode, that’s one thing. But if it’s another Iraq or Afghanistan, we’re done.”
Still, the dominant narrative within the group leans toward skepticism of any further entanglement in the Middle East.
Broader Far-Right Echoes
It’s not just the Proud Boys raising alarm. Other right-wing influencers and commentators once aligned with Trump have voiced similar concerns.
Tucker Carlson, a longtime Trump ally with a massive conservative audience, recently criticized the idea of military escalation with Iran on his nightly broadcast. “America’s borders are wide open, our cities are overwhelmed, and yet we’re talking about sending bombs overseas again?” Carlson questioned. “Who does this serve?”
Far-right commentator Nick Fuentes posted, “A war with Iran would be the final betrayal. The America First movement didn’t fight to replace one set of war-mongering elites with another.”
White House Responds
When asked about the backlash from groups like the Proud Boys, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung downplayed the criticism.
“President Trump has always prioritized American safety, security, and sovereignty,” Cheung said. “Any military decisions are made with the goal of defending the United States and preventing threats to our people. Claims to the contrary are based on misinformation and misinterpretations of the president’s position.”
Nevertheless, the statement did little to quell the growing unease within Trump’s more extreme support circles.
A Calculated Gamble or Fatal Mistake?
Political observers suggest that Trump’s pivot toward a more aggressive foreign policy may be a calculated attempt to broaden his appeal among traditional conservatives and defense-minded voters.
“Trump knows he can’t win with only the fringe,” said GOP strategist Mark Reynolds. “He needs suburban voters, military families, and the security hawks in the Republican Party. This is a gamble that those voters are more valuable than some of the radical groups that have supported him in the past.”
But others warn that underestimating the anger brewing within his base could backfire.
“The Proud Boys and groups like them were crucial foot soldiers for Trump’s ground game — not officially, but through organizing, rallies, and online activism,” noted Dr. Foster. “Alienating them could have unpredictable consequences.”
Looking Ahead
The immediate question remains: will the Proud Boys’ threat translate into meaningful political consequences? Historically, the group represents a small but loud subset of the right, and their ability to sway national elections is debatable.
However, their public split from Trump — if it holds — could signal a broader erosion of trust among voters who were drawn to his non-interventionist, anti-globalist message in the first place.
For now, the Proud Boys are holding their position. In their closing statement posted Tuesday night, they wrote: “No war with Iran. No exceptions. America First means America First. If Trump forgets that, we forget him.”
As Trump faces pressure from establishment Republicans on one side and populist-nationalist supporters on the other, the Iran dilemma may be the first true test of whether his movement can hold together — or whether it’s beginning to fracture beyond repair.
