By Free Vikings – Polymath Contributor
London, 23 October 2025 – The once‑unified “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) coalition is showing signs of fracture as isolationist hard‑liners clash with interventionist hawks over foreign‑policy priorities and loyalty to former President Donald Trump. Recent eruptions on social‑media platforms and in the podcast circuit point to a brewing power struggle that could reshape the Republican Party’s direction ahead of the 2026 mid‑term elections.
A Battle of Ideologies
At the centre of the dispute are two opposing visions for America’s role abroad. On one side sit congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, championing an isolationist agenda that frames any overseas engagement as a betrayal of the “five pillars” of MAGA – nationalism, anti‑establishment sentiment, economic protectionism, cultural conservatism and a hard‑line stance on immigration.
Opposing them are Senate stalwarts Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham, whose record of supporting robust defence spending and backing U.S. aid to Israel places them firmly in the hawkish camp. Adding volatility to the mix is activist Laura Loomer, whose penchant for “loyalty audits” and public denunciations has made her both a useful enforcer and a potential liability.
Short‑Term Surge: Public Bloodletting and Trump’s Intervention
Over the next three months, analysts anticipate an escalation of public spats across X, YouTube and a raft of right‑wing podcasts. Loomer’s August 2025 tirade against Carlson – in which she labelled him a “fraud” and warned of “purity erosion” – exemplifies the intensity of the exchanges. Greene is expected to continue exploiting Carlson’s platform to paint hawkish senators as “warmongers”, while Cruz and Graham will likely resort to subtler shade‑throwing, positioning themselves as loyal to Trump while preserving their legislative clout.
Insiders report that the White House is already uneasy about Loomer’s growing influence. A confidential source, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that “the administration sees Loomer’s tactics as a double‑edged sword – they mobilise the base but risk alienating even the most ardent supporters.”
Donald Trump, whose brand thrives on chaos, is predicted to let the feud simmer before stepping in with a unifying tweet or rally remark. By December 2025, a tentative truce is likely: Greene will be elevated as a congressional enforcer, Loomer relegated to an advisory capacity, and the narrative refocused on attacking Democrats and the “deep state”.
Long‑Term Outlook: Hardened Purity Tests and a Marginalised Loomer
If the current trajectory holds, the isolationist wing – Greene, Carlson, Steve Bannon and Lauren Owens – may consolidate grassroots credibility by positioning themselves as “exposers of fakes”. This could nudge Trump’s foreign‑policy posture toward greater restraint on aid to Israel and a softer stance on Iran, echoing the rhetoric of his 2024 campaign.
Conversely, hawkish senators will retain their Senate leverage but may lose street‑cred among the purist base. Loomer’s history of rapid rises and falls – from her 2018 ban on X to the 2025 deposition where she hurled personal insults at Greene, Harris and Graham – suggests she will likely burn out by mid‑2026, either retreating to a niche media venture or disappearing from the mainstream spotlight.
Policy implications are significant. Intra‑party discord could stall or dilute key legislative initiatives, from foreign‑aid packages to budget negotiations, creating opportunities for government shutdown brinkmanship. Yet the “America First” brand will remain tethered to Trump’s weekly pronouncements, limiting any substantive shift away from his personal agenda.
Electoral Consequences
Democrats stand to benefit from the spectacle, as the Republican infighting diverts attention from legislative achievements and offers a steady stream of “popcorn” headlines. While the GOP may preserve narrow majorities in the 2026 mid‑terms, the party is expected to experience a surge in primary challenges – the so‑called “RINO” attacks – that could further fragment its ranks.
Political scientists warn that repeated “loyalty audits” risk normalising a culture of intra‑party surveillance, eroding institutional memory and undermining policy continuity. The long‑term health of the Republican caucus may therefore hinge on whether Trump can successfully re‑assert his gravitational pull over these competing factions.
Looking Ahead
Key flashpoints – the 2025 NATO summit, renewed Israel‑Iran tensions in early 2026, and the upcoming mid‑term primaries – will serve as barometers for the balance of power within MAGA. Observers will be watching closely for any shift in tone from Greene, Carlson, Cruz, Graham and Loomer, as well as for Trump’s strategic interventions.
In the meantime, the battle lines drawn today suggest a party caught between an isolationist insurgency and a hawkish establishment, with a charismatic leader attempting to steer both toward a single, albeit precarious, destination. Whether this internal turbulence will weaken the GOP’s electoral prospects or merely reshuffle its internal hierarchy remains to be seen.