A decision to bomb Iran would be a war of choice. If Mr Trump scores what looks like an easy victory, without ground forces, he is likely to be hailed as a forceful leader. If he lands the country in a regional quagmire and the price of oil soars, the public verdict will probably be harsh. ■

Donald Trump’s hints that he may dispatch the US military to help Israel destroy Iran’s nuclear program has spurred a revolt from his typically faithful America First base, further dividing a party already struggling to unite around the president’s second-term agenda.

The prospect of a U.S. strike against Iran has exposed divisions among Trump supporters, with part of the rift on full display when Tucker Carlson, on his streaming program, clashed with Republican Senator Ted Cruz.