In a whirlwind of geopolitical drama, President Donald Trump has ignited a firestorm by hinting at regime change in Iran, just hours after U.S. airstrikes targeted three Iranian nuclear facilities. The strikes, which hit Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan on June 21, 2025, have not only escalated tensions in the Middle East but also exposed deep rifts within Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement. As Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky emerges as a vocal critic, accusing the administration of unconstitutional overreach, the debate over what it means to be “America First” is tearing Trump’s base apart. Meanwhile, a stunning archaeological discovery in Iran adds a new layer of intrigue to the unfolding crisis.
Trump’s Regime Change Rhetoric: A Shift or a Slip?
On Sunday, June 22, 2025, Trump took to Truth Social, his social media platform, to float the idea of regime change in Tehran. “If the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???” he wrote, a stark departure from his administration’s earlier assurances that the strikes were “limited” and aimed solely at neutralizing Iran’s nuclear program. The post came after top aides, including Vice President JD Vance, emphasized that the U.S. had no intention of entering a full-scale war with Iran.
>[](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/22/us/politics/trump-iran-maga-rift-isolationists-hawks.html)President Trump did the right thing for America in striking Iran's nuclear-weapons program. Now, on to regime change.https://t.co/GAQt6KEKiJ
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) June 22, 2025
This pivot has raised alarms among critics who fear a repeat of the Bush-Cheney era’s Iraq War, where promises of quick, surgical strikes spiraled into a decades-long conflict. Social media platforms, particularly X, have erupted with MAGA infighting, as Trump’s base grapples with his apparent shift from an anti-war stance to neoconservative rhetoric. Posts on X reveal a split: some supporters cheer the strikes as decisive action, while others, echoing Massie, argue that fighting Israel’s battles betrays Trump’s “America First” promise.
[](https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/1936574129009803509)This is not America First folks. pic.twitter.com/UllkiycVRv
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 22, 2025
Thomas Massie: The Lone Dissenter in MAGA Land
At the heart of the controversy stands Rep. Thomas Massie, a libertarian-leaning Republican who has dared to challenge Trump’s Iran policy head-on. Massie, known for his skepticism of U.S. foreign interventions, blasted the strikes as “unconstitutional,” arguing that Congress alone has the authority to declare war. “This is not our war. But if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our constitution,” he said last week.
[](https://www.newsweek.com/thomas-massie-says-iran-attack-unconstitutional-trump-divides-maga-2088875)Massie’s criticism didn’t stop there. On CBS’s Face the Nation, he suggested that the White House is being swayed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing some in Congress of prioritizing a foreign power over U.S. interests. He’s also co-leading a bipartisan War Powers Resolution with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) to prohibit unauthorized U.S. military action in Iran.
[](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/22/us/politics/trump-iran-maga-rift-isolationists-hawks.html)Trump’s response was swift and scathing. On Truth Social, he branded Massie a “LOSER” who is “not MAGA,” vowing to campaign against him in Kentucky’s Republican primary. “MAGA doesn’t want him, doesn’t know him, and doesn’t respect him,” Trump wrote, accusing Massie of grandstanding and undermining the military’s “AMAZING job.” The attack has only deepened the divide, with Massie’s supporters rallying behind his call for constitutional restraint, while Trump loyalists demand unity.
[](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-slams-republican-massie-not-maga-following-congressmans-criticism-iran-strikes)Massie: AIPAC is very persuasive. If you look at my colleagues' feeds now, they all look the same, they're all tweeting the same message. pic.twitter.com/rYZVv0SobG
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 22, 2025
An Archaeological Discovery Amid the Chaos
As bombs fell on Iran’s nuclear sites, a remarkable discovery emerged from the ancient city of Persepolis, Iran’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. On June 20, 2025, Iranian archaeologists uncovered a 2,500-year-old Achaemenid tablet inscribed with cuneiform texts detailing a peace treaty between the Persian Empire and neighboring kingdoms. The find, reported by Iran’s Tehran Times, has been hailed as a testament to Persia’s historical legacy of diplomacy—a poignant contrast to today’s escalating conflict.
The tablet, dubbed the “Persepolis Peace Accord,” includes references to mutual respect and non-aggression, offering a glimpse into a time when Persia was a global superpower. Experts from Germany’s German Archaeological Institute have joined Iranian researchers to study the artifact, which some hope could inspire modern-day calls for peace. “This discovery reminds us that Iran’s history is rich with examples of dialogue, not just conflict,” said Dr. Ali Mousavi, an Iranian archaeologist, in an interview with France’s Le Monde.
The timing of the find has struck a chord online, with hashtags like #PersepolisPeace trending on X. Many see it as a symbolic plea for de-escalation, amplifying the voices of those, like Massie, who advocate for diplomacy over war. Yet, others argue that Iran’s current regime, which Trump calls a “bully,” undermines this historical legacy by pursuing nuclear ambitions.
The MAGA Divide: Neocons vs. Isolationists
Trump’s Iran strikes have exposed a fault line within the MAGA movement: the tension between neoconservative hawks and isolationist doves. Supporters like Charlie Kirk and Sen. Ted Cruz have praised the strikes as “surgical” and necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. “This isn’t starting a war, this is ending one,” Kirk posted on X, echoing Trump’s claim that Iran has been “at war with America for 46 years.”
Conversely, figures like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and former Trump ally Tucker Carlson have expressed unease. Greene, who initially opposed the strikes, tweeted, “Israel is a nuclear-armed nation. This is not our fight. Peace is the answer.” Carlson, in a recent podcast debate with Cruz, warned that U.S. intervention risks entangling America in another “endless war.” The clash has fueled a broader debate about whether Trump’s actions align with his 2016 campaign promise to end such conflicts.
[](https://www.newsweek.com/thomas-massie-says-iran-attack-unconstitutional-trump-divides-maga-2088875)Global Reactions and the Path Forward
World leaders have urged restraint, with the United Nations calling for emergency talks. France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs condemned the strikes as “destabilizing,” while China’s Xinhua News Agency accused the U.S. of “imperialist aggression.” In contrast, Israel’s Jerusalem Post praised Trump’s “bold decision,” citing former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s claim that “the world is now a safer place.”
[](https://www.newsweek.com/thomas-massie-says-iran-attack-unconstitutional-trump-divides-maga-2088875)Back in Washington, Democrats like Sen. Tim Kaine and Rep. Rashida Tlaib have joined Massie in decrying the strikes as illegal, warning of a wider Middle East war. “The American public is overwhelmingly opposed to the U.S. waging war on Iran,” Kaine posted on X. As 40,000 U.S. troops remain stationed in the region, the world awaits Iran’s response and the Pentagon’s damage assessment, scheduled for June 23, 2025.
[](https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/21/maga-largely-falls-in-line-on-trumps-iran-strikes-00416450)[](https://www.newsweek.com/thomas-massie-says-iran-attack-unconstitutional-trump-divides-maga-2088875)Why This Matters
Trump’s Iran policy is more than a foreign policy debate—it’s a test of what “America First” means in 2025. Is it about projecting strength through military might, as Trump and his hawkish allies argue? Or is it about avoiding foreign entanglements, as Massie and the isolationists contend? The Persepolis discovery adds an emotional layer, reminding us of Iran’s complex history and the human cost of conflict. As the MAGA movement fractures and the Middle East teeters on the brink, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
What do you think? Should the U.S. pursue regime change in Iran, or is diplomacy the answer? Share your thoughts in the comments.
По материалам: http://www.planet-today.com/2025/06/trumps-iran-pivot-from-nuclear-strikes.html