The World Is Safer When America Leads

Less than four weeks into the joint U.S.-Israeli operation to disarm Iran, there is no shortage of caviling from opponents of military action. But the carping isn’t just coming from across the aisle: Some of the most vociferous criticism is coming from within President Trump’s most vigorous supporters in the MAGA media and political ecosystem.

For a small but highly vocal faction on the Right, putting our interests first requires us to abandon our traditional role as global leader and avoid foreign entanglements at all costs. This camp would have you believe that America’s righteous and long-overdue action against the Islamic Republic – an evil dictatorship that has waged war against America since taking power in 1979 – is unjustified, as Iran posed no “imminent threat” to the United States.

Take action with the ACLJ. Sign the petition: Stop the Sabotage. Let President Trump Defend America.

As a former Secretary of State and CIA Director who dealt with the threat from Iran firsthand, I couldn’t disagree more. The Iranian regime has the blood of thousands of Americans on its hands; is the world’s number one state sponsor of terrorism; and invested enormous resources into the illicit nuclear weapons program it intended to use to menace its neighbors and ensure the dictatorship’s survival. It will stop at nothing to rebuild the capabilities that the U.S. and Israel have degraded so that it can continue to threaten the U.S., our allies, and the entire region. For the sake of global peace and security, the time had come to say enough was enough.

Timing is a key element of this decision. Just a few years ago, this regime was a major regional power with a network of military proxies and influence capable of wreaking havoc across the region. After the October 7 attacks, Israel made the prudent decision to defeat not just Hamas, but the entire ring of Iranian-backed forces intent on destroying the world’s only Jewish State. As a result of their valiant efforts, by 2025, Iran’s military capabilities and leadership had been severely damaged, creating an opening to destroy its nuclear program in the joint U.S.-Israeli Operation Midnight Hammer.

But as President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu wisely calculated, that wasn’t enough. They rightly judged that global peace and security depend upon ensuring that this regime is completely defanged for good. Polling suggests that the vast majority of Republicans agree: According to a CBS poll, a whopping 92% of self-described “MAGA Republicans” approve of military action against Iran, with 84% Republican approval overall. This is in line with surveys showing sustained, broad support for American global leadership, suggesting that Americans understand that our security and prosperity depend on our willingness to lead on the world stage.

Of course, there’s always room for disagreement over the wisdom of a given policy, and there are good-faith arguments against specific military interventions. But there is a difference between arguing against a hypothetical operation versus one that is already underway, with American lives on the line and our broader security, prosperity, and prestige at stake. Like it or not, we are in a state of war with Iran, and we need to prevail. There’s plenty of room for vigorous debate about how to accomplish that, but the goal of victory cannot be the question.

With over 2,000 Marines deploying to the Middle East, it is clear that the President is not backing down from committing the necessary resources to ensure our victory. Meanwhile, each day brings news of another devastating blow to Iran’s capacity to fight back. No one can predict the future, but I have a great deal of confidence that, with sustained pressure, America will prevail – and the world will be far safer as a result.

Take action with the ACLJ. Sign the petition: Stop the Sabotage. Let President Trump Defend America.