Some GOP senators and Trump allies have harsh reviews of his agreement
to end Iran war
[June 19, 2026]
By THOMAS BEAUMONT and MARY CLARE JALONICK
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican leaders on Capitol Hill, including top
national security figures, were voicing strong reservations Thursday —-
and some outright condemnation — of the Trump administration's agreement
to end the fighting in Iran.
The memorandum of understanding signed by President Donald Trump started
a 60-day negotiating clock to reach a final deal on the future of Iran’s
nuclear program. While Trump allies noted the agreement is not final,
the lifting of economic sanctions on Iran’s sale of oil and the plan for
a $300 billion fund to rebuild Iran and its economy were met with
criticism from Republican leaders and conservative influencers,
including some close Trump supporters.
“President Trump has pursued peace through strength. I hope the
intermediaries working on this deal are not undermining that objective,”
said Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, the chairman of the Senate Armed
Services Committee, who has urged Trump to keep up the pressure on Iran
and last month warned against striking a bad deal.
“The $300 billion fund for the reconstruction and economic development
of Iran — though not funded by U.S. taxpayers — would make Iran’s payoff
under President Obama’s 2015 deal look like a pittance by comparison,”
Wicker said, referring to the Democratic administration's Iran agreement
that Trump withdrew from during his first term.
The criticism from within Trump’s own party — though hardly unanimous —
comes as he is trying to bring an end to the unpopular war fewer than
five months from midterm elections, where Republicans are facing
headwinds in their effort to hold their narrow majorities.
Trump calls his critics ‘fools’
Wicker’s points were backed by a number of his colleagues, many of whom
supported the war when it began.
“History demonstrates giving billions of dollars to the theocratic
lunatics who want to kill you is an exceptionally bad idea," said Texas
Sen. Ted Cruz, a staunch supporter of the war. “And so I hope we don’t
do that.”
Trump on Truth Social called his critics “fools” and said the $300
billion payment to Iran by the United States is “fake news.” The interim
pact promises a $300 billion fund for postwar reconstruction. It’s not
clear where that money will come from — but Trump said, as Wicker noted,
the U.S. would not contribute.
“All there is for the U.S. is Success, Lower Oil Prices, and Victory,”
he posted.
Some senators question financial provisions
As the memorandum was released to Congress on Thursday, several
Republican senators said it left them with questions, many of them about
its financial provisions.
Majority Leader John Thune and South Dakota colleague Sen. Mike Rounds
were seeking clarity on how financial incentives to Iran and conditions
barring funding terrorism would be enforced, because “right now, a lot
of money's going to go to Iran,” Rounds said.
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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., leaves the chamber, at
the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/J.
Scott Applewhite)
To be sure, there were Republicans more closely aligned with Trump's
America First policies in the Senate and elsewhere who were giving
him the benefit of the doubt.
Sen. Roger Marshall stressed the point in the memorandum that
supporters say gives the U.S. the upper hand. In a social media
post, the Kansas Republican said one of the most important
provisions “lays out a key commitment that strengthens regional
security and ensures that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.”
Louisiana GOP Senate candidate John Fleming, who has focused on
Trump's most loyal supporters ahead of a June 27 Republican primary
runoff, said that means Trump has suggested that the U.S. will
strike Iran again if it does not live up to the agreement.
“The criticism may be worthy if there isn't follow-through,” Fleming
said. “He's using the speak-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick in offering
them plenty of help, but at the same time he's got that stick ready
if they don't live up to their agreements."
MAGA voices send a warning
Still, some of Trump's strongest supporters in conservative media
have warned against the agreement.
Conservative radio host Mark Levin suggested a strategic rethinking
to hold off on an agreement with Iran until after the midterms.
“We should consider slow-walking the enemy, building up our
munitions, our oil reserves, get the price of gasoline down, get
through the midterms, then knock them out,” he said in a social
media post. Instead, the U.S. seemed to be “rushing to a deal,
building up their oil industry” and agreeing to governments
“transferring billions to them.”
Right-wing social media influencer Laura Loomer, who has long
supported Trump while also promoting conspiracy theories, was more
pointed in her criticism.
“Who is giving the President tainted, pro-Islamic intel?” she posted
on X.
What all the critics shared is an abiding distrust of the Iranian
regime, no matter their relationship to Trump.
“It does smack of the kind of appeasement," said former Vice
President Mike Pence, whose relationship with Trump was fractured
after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. “Bottom line. I
don’t trust the Iranians.”
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Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa.
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