'MAGA' Pushes Back Against Trump's Decision to Support Ukraine [AK Radio]

Disappointment Over Retreat from "America First"
Bannon Warns: "Republicans Could Lose 40 House Seats"

On July 18 (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump announced his decision to provide Ukraine with offensive weapons, including the Patriot system. This decision stands in direct contrast to President Trump's previous stance, in which he had pledged an early end to the Ukraine war and a withdrawal of U.S. troops. The move has become a major topic of discussion as MAGA (Make America Great Again) supporters, known as Trump's core base, have voiced strong opposition.

President Trump warned that if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire within 50 days, he will impose a 100% tariff on Russian goods. This is a powerful economic pressure measure that goes beyond simple sanctions against Russia, as it includes secondary sanctions targeting China and India, which import oil from Russia. Of particular note, President Trump reportedly asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a phone call, "Can you attack Moscow?" to which President Zelensky replied, "If the U.S. provides weapons, we can do anything."

In response to this shift in Ukraine policy, Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican congresswoman and key MAGA figure, stated, "MAGA has never agreed to providing weapons to Ukraine, nor do we support U.S. involvement in foreign wars." Another prominent MAGA figure, Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist, warned, "10% of MAGA supporters could defect, and the Republican Party could lose 40 seats in the House in next year's midterm elections."

The backlash from MAGA supporters stems from disappointment that President Trump has abandoned the "America First" and "no foreign war involvement" principles he strongly emphasized during his presidential campaign. In particular, there is growing opposition as he has failed to keep his promise not to sacrifice U.S. taxpayer money and the lives of American soldiers in European wars.

Nevertheless, it is believed that President Trump's policy shift was heavily influenced by the ongoing failure of negotiations with President Vladimir Putin. During the campaign, President Trump boasted that he could "end the Russia-Ukraine war quickly," but in reality, President Putin repeatedly rejected ceasefire proposals, damaging Trump's credibility. According to a recent U.S. public opinion poll, 60% of all voters said, "President Trump is too passive in negotiations with Putin" and "he should take a more aggressive approach." This shift in domestic public opinion also appears to have influenced President Trump's policy reversal.

Reuters Yonhap News

Within Russia, there are growing concerns that President Putin is missing the optimal window for negotiations. Currently, Russia occupies most of Ukraine's major industrial regions and, with support from North Korean troops, has pushed Ukrainian forces out of Kursk Oblast. Analysts widely agree that agreeing to a ceasefire under these circumstances would have been advantageous for Russia.

However, President Putin's continued hardline stance and repeated rejection of President Trump's ceasefire proposals are now seen as having worsened the situation. In particular, the secondary sanctions proposed by President Trump could directly impact Russia's oil exports to China and India, which are vital to the Russian economy, making this a significant burden for Russia.

The 50-day deadline set by President Trump carries implications beyond a simple negotiation deadline. While it is not expected that President Trump will completely reverse his current policy during this period, if President Putin allows the deadline to pass, it is highly likely that Trump will shift to an even more hardline approach. At present, President Trump still does not label the conflict as an "illegal invasion" and refrains from openly criticizing President Putin. In fact, he has described the war as "violent, but a clever expansion of territory by Putin," indicating that his fundamental perspective on the war remains unchanged.

President Trump's policy shift is expected to have significant repercussions for American politics going forward. The defection of MAGA supporters could negatively impact the Republican Party in the 2026 midterm elections, posing a risk to President Trump's political standing.

On the other hand, it is possible that the situation could change rapidly depending on President Putin's choices. Considering President Trump's history of frequent policy reversals, some in Russia speculate that "if Putin continues to insist on his position, the Trump administration will eventually follow." Ultimately, the next 50 days are likely to be a decisive period for the future of the Russia-Ukraine war. How President Putin responds to President Trump's ultimatum, and the subsequent impact on the international community, will be closely watched.