Trump Picks a Side on Entering the War in Iran, for Now

For weeks, President Trump has been at the center of an ideological war between the isolationists in his MAGA base who have implored him to stay out of Israel’s war with Iran and the pro-Israel hawks who have encouraged him to strike.

On Saturday night, the president left no question about where he stood — at least for now.

“Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,” he told the world in a brief news conference from the White House. “Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier.”

It was a remarkable about-face for someone who as a candidate mercilessly criticized the Bush administration over the Iraq war, called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and once pledged to end the “era of endless wars.” But even as he announced the military operation, he appeared to be rapidly trying to get himself back to the middle by insisting that the strike was a one-off and that he continues to seek peace.

Mr. Trump described the bombing campaign as “massive” but also said it was limited, referring to the mission as “precision strikes.”

Still, in attacking Iran, Mr. Trump runs the risk of miring the United States deeper in a foreign conflict, even as the president has said he does not want to use U.S. ground troops.

Mr. Trump’s followers have supported him through thick and thin, and political reaction so far has been dividing more along partisan than ideological lines.