In a provocative social media post, President Donald Trump stated, “it’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???” This remark echoes sentiments from the Bush administration.
Despite Trump’s assertion, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clarified earlier today, stating, “this mission was not and has not been about regime change,” while Vice President JD Vance emphasized on ABC’s Sunday broadcast, “Well, first of all, we don’t want to achieve regime change. We want to achieve the end of the Iranian nuclear programme.”
The concept of regime change has become a divisive issue within the Republican Party. During his presidency, George W. Bush prioritized regime change in Iraq based on discredited claims regarding weapons of mass destruction. Since then, many within the Republican base have grown wary of such policies, particularly concerning American involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts. Trump notably campaigned against the neoconservative approach of his predecessor, pledging a position of “no new wars.”
However, lingering beliefs among certain conventional national security advocates and supporters of Israel’s military actions remain influential in Republican circles. For Trump, the decision to engage with Iran’s nuclear facilities transcends foreign policy; he must also navigate the varied interests of his domestic political landscape.