Donald Trump Jr. privately urged his father not to launch a military campaign against Iran and has consistently expressed opposition to the conflict, according to a recent report by The Atlantic.
Trump Jr. made his stance clear to President Donald Trump when the operation began and has continued to criticize the war in private settings, two people who spoke with the president’s eldest son told the publication.
Though he has remained publicly silent to avoid breaking with his father, sources noted that his skepticism toward foreign intervention has long been established.
“Don has kept his views on the subject private, as he would never publicly break with his dad on an issue like this, but I can’t imagine anyone who knows Don would be surprised by his personal views on the subject,” a person close to Trump Jr. told The Atlantic.
The report points to a broader division within the administration and the conservative movement regarding foreign military intervention. Other senior figures, including Vice President JD Vance, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also expressed initial skepticism or private reservations about joining Israel’s military campaign and its proposed scope.
The conflict faces mounting criticism as its economic and political costs rise.
Recent polling from the Pew Research Center found that 65 percent of Americans disapproved of the administration’s handling of the Iran operation, while gas price increases linked to energy market disruptions continued to affect household budgets. Prominent party figures have raised concerns over the timeline, with House Speaker Mike Johnson urging the president to end the conflict as far back as July.
The White House did not address Trump Jr.’s reported objections directly, but an official stated that “Iran has been decimated, and one way or the other, the conflict in Iran will be over very soon.”
Domestic fuel costs have added to the administration’s troubles, with average gas prices remaining above $4 per gallon for a record 158 consecutive days following supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The price surge drove U.S. inflation to a three-year high of 4.2 percent in May, leaving consumers paying tens of billions more at the pump compared to the previous year.
The economic strain appears to be weakening Republican standing ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
Recent polling from Politico showed that 29 percent of undecided voters would remain unpersuaded to support GOP candidates even if fuel prices dropped by a dollar, while prices in several Western states have climbed to more than $5 and $6 a gallon.
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