Trump on Iran and Israel: "America First" Means Whatever He Says It Does
In an exclusive interview with The Atlantic, US President Donald Trump defended his administration’s efforts to bring an end to multiple conflicts in the Middle East, despite growing violence in the region. The conversation, which took place on Trump’s 79th birthday, came hours before his appearance at a military parade celebrating the US Army’s 250th anniversary.
When asked about critics, such as Tucker Carlson, who have argued that US support for Israel during its attacks on Iran is anathema to the "America First" way of doing things, Trump was adamant that he is the one who decides what the term means. "Well, considering that I’m the one that developed ‘America First,’ and considering that the term wasn’t used until I came along, I think I’m the one that decides that," Trump told The Atlantic. "For those people who say they want peace—you can’t have peace if Iran has a nuclear weapon. So for all of those wonderful people who don’t want to do anything about Iran having a nuclear weapon—that’s not peace."
Trump’s remarks were a response to a recent email from Carlson to his followers, in which he suggested that US support for what he characterised as Israeli aggression against Iran ran contrary to the "America First" planks of Trump’s political movement. Carlson followed that up with a social-media post that labelled others in conservative media and some major Republican donors "warmongers" for supporting the possibility of direct US involvement in the attacks on Iran. According to The Atlantic, Carlson wrote: "Washington knew these attacks would happen. They aided Israel in carrying them out. Politicians purporting to be America First can’t now credibly turn around and say they had nothing to do with it. Our country is in deep."
In response to Carlson’s comments, Trump told The Atlantic that he had not heard them, and then dismissed them. He argued that the US has a vital national-security interest in preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. For months before Israel’s attacks this week, Trump had privately and publicly urged Israel to give time for negotiations with Iran and not launch any attacks. "Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, very simple. Regardless—Israel or not Israel—Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb," Trump told The Atlantic.
The conflict in Gaza, Trump said, is coming to a close. "Gaza is ready to fold—or just about ready to fold. We have gotten many of the hostages back," he told The Atlantic. The president also spoke about his upcoming phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who continues to ramp up attacks on Ukraine and has largely rebuffed US efforts to end the fighting there. "The Ukraine deal is something that should never have happened, would have never happened. That was a Biden situation and not a Trump situation, and I am trying to end it," Trump told The Atlantic.
Trump also expressed optimism about world affairs, saying: "I think we have done very well" of his administration’s efforts. However, not everyone in the MAGA universe shares the president’s sunny outlook. As The Atlantic previously reported, Carlson has been vocal in his criticism of US support for Israel during its attacks on Iran. In his email to followers, he suggested that Trump must now define his presidency. "What happens next will define Donald Trump’s presidency," Carlson wrote.
The Atlantic has reached out to Carlson for comment on Trump’s remarks, but has not received a response. According to The Atlantic, Trump excused himself from the interview, saying: "Mike, I have to go. I am taking a call from Putin." The call, which took place on June 2025, marks a significant development in the ongoing tensions between the US, Iran, and Israel.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has significant implications for global security, and Trump’s administration has faced criticism for its handling of the situation. As The Atlantic previously reported, the US has a vital national-security interest in preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. Trump’s comments suggest that his administration will continue to take a hardline stance on Iran, despite criticism from some quarters.
Sources:
The Atlantic: Trump Interview: Iran and Israel
