'Damn,' 'Trump's Surrender': Dissatisfaction Spreads Among U.S. Conservative Hardliners Over End-of-War Agreement

Following the signing of an end-of-war Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the United States and Iran, dissatisfaction and concern are spreading, particularly among hardliners in the U.S. conservative camp.

The public expression of discontent was initiated by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who is considered a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Following the announcement of the MOU on June 15 (local time), Senator Graham expressed concern on the social media platform X, stating, "I am somewhat concerned that Iran's perspective on the agreement seems to differ from the claims of the U.S. negotiating team." He demanded that any final agreement with Iran must undergo a congressional vote.

While he did not openly criticize the signing of the MOU, his remarks essentially urged the Trump administration to negotiate cautiously, based on the premise that Iran cannot be trusted.

Unlike Senator Graham's relatively restrained remarks, assessments from other conservative figures have been highly direct.

Conservative commentator Erick Erickson criticized the deal on X on June 15, writing, "Trump surrendered to Iran. The people who kill Americans are going to love this deal."

Erickson also expressed his displeasure, saying "Damn," in response to Vice President JD Vance's remark that "the Iranian leadership expressed regret over 47 years of hostility toward the United States."

Washington Post (WP) columnist Marc Thiessen, who is known to be someone President Trump seeks advice from, pointed out that this agreement looks similar to the Obama administration's 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Criticism that the deal is on par with or worse than Obama's nuclear agreement is precisely the kind of assessment President Trump detests the most.

President Trump himself was the one who withdrew from the Obama administration's 2015 nuclear deal.

Thiessen also criticized Vice President Vance's media interview, which suggested that Iran could gain access to a $300 billion reconstruction fund if it complies with the agreement, saying, "Giving $300 billion to Iran under any circumstances is a disaster," and comparing it to "offering a Marshall Plan to rebuild Germany while the Nazis are in power."

The conservative magazine National Review also published an editorial titled "Release the Agreement," stating, "Trump is potentially returning the U.S. to Obama's failed Iran nuclear deal," and calling it a humiliation given President Trump's past hardline rhetoric against Iran.

Fox News host Mark Levin, who has strongly supported war with Iran, also urged the release of the agreement, asking, "Why can't we see that damn MOU?"

Even before the MOU was signed, voices within the ruling Republican Party had been warning against negotiating with Iran in the first place.

The argument was that since Iran's words and actions cannot be trusted, it would be better to subdue Iran using the overwhelming military power of the United States.

For President Trump, who needed to rush to end the war ahead of the midterm elections in November, he cannot ignore the possibility of dissatisfaction spreading among his hardline supporters over this MOU, which postponed nuclear negotiations.

If things go wrong, public sentiment questioning "Why did we even fight the war?" could spread within his support base, potentially working against him in the elections.

The opposition Democratic Party pressured President Trump to immediately and transparently disclose the details of the agreement with Iran.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized in a statement that day, "What did we actually gain from Trump's war?" adding, "The Iranian regime is more radical than the previous one. The Strait of Hormuz is under more Iranian control than before the war started. Gas prices are still too high."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.