President Donald Trump isn’t just facing opposition and growing frustration from the American people; his own son is, too.
A new investigation published by The Atlantic on Tuesday, October 20, reveals that Donald Trump Jr., who spent much of the 2024 presidential campaign promising voters his father would keep the United States out of another foreign war, has repeatedly expressed frustration with the conflict in multiple private conversations.
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor assigned to the 27th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan, approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 909th Air Refueling Squadron during a training flight over the Pacific Ocean, July 8, 2026. Aerial refueling capabilities extend airborne training time and combat radius, ensuring joint and allied aircraft are postured to maintain regional peace and stability within the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Erin Currie) 18 WG/PA
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 501 performs a flight demonstration over Washington, D.C., July 4, 2026. The 89th Maintenance Group furnished specialized ground equipment, tools and apron parking locations at nearby Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, to support the staging and execution of VMFAT 501 transient airshow assets during the national Freedom 250 celebration. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Christopher Guerra)
The report by Vivian Salama and Ashley Parker cited two people who spoke directly with the president’s eldest son about his feelings on the war.
The revelations come as the president battles growing public anger over the conflict, the subsequent rise in oil prices, and the general increase in the cost of living, with polls suggesting his Republican Party is set for a major defeat in the November 3 midterm elections.
Don Jr. Opposed the War from the Start
Don Jr.’s opposition to the war with Iran is nothing new, with the Atlantic’s sources noting that the president’s son has opposed military intervention against Iran from the outset and has consistently and personally communicated his concerns to his father.
Nonetheless, Don Jr. has generally avoided publicly criticizing the administration’s handling of the conflict.
A person close to Trump Jr. told the outlet that the president’s son would never publicly break with his father over the war, but that his position would hardly surprise anybody familiar with his political views.
The White House did not comment on the reported disagreement, and instead insisted that Iran’s military capabilities had been severely damaged and that the conflict would not last much longer.
A spokesperson for the president’s son also refused to comment.
The report also noted the president’s son’s relationship with the late Charlie Kirk, who also opposed a war with Iran.
“Don has kept his views on the subject private, as he would never publicly break with his dad on an issue like this, but I can’t imagine anyone who knows Don would be surprised by his personal views on the subject,” a source told The Atlantic.
Trump Jr. Promised His Father He’d Avoid the Topic
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump Jr. repeatedly defended his father as a peacemaker, praising his foreign policy record and arguing that a second Trump administration would keep the United States from fighting another “forever war” in the Middle East.
Then, on April 13, 2024, as Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones toward Israel, Trump Jr. mocked claims suggesting his father would drag America into a war with Iran on X.
“Remember when they said Trump would get us into a full-blown war with Iran?” Trump Jr. wrote on social media. “Times like these should make us all realize how lucky we were to have Trump, his strength and his resolve.”
Supporters routinely made this argument about the president throughout his first and second terms and during all three of his campaigns.
But those promises have now been undermined as the war with Iran is not the short operation that President Trump envisioned.
Having launched the first wave of strikes with Israel on February 28, the conflict has now dragged on for nearly eight months – and there is no end in sight.
Other Senior Trump Officials Have Spoken Out
The Atlantic’s report also reveals that opposition to the military campaign has reached the highest echelons of the Trump administration, and not every administration official who opposes the war has stepped down.
According to the investigation, Vice President JD Vance is among the senior officials who privately opposed the war while the administration considered whether it should join Israel in the campaign.
The report also revealed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe expressed skepticism about the plan – specifically, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s original plans for removing the Iranian leadership entirely.
Both officials reportedly questioned whether a military operation primarily conducted through airstrikes could realistically initiate regime change in Tehran. However, those concerns are not the same as outright opposition to all military action.
Americans, and Active-Duty Soldiers, Oppose the War
Meanwhile, opposition to the war continues to grow among American voters. A Pew Research Center survey published on October 8 found that 65% of Americans disapprove of President Trump’s handling of the conflict, compared with just 33% who approve.
Republican support for the conflict is falling, too, with approval of the president’s handling of the war declining from 69% in March to 63% in October.
And a poll by Change Research on behalf of the advocacy group Common Defense also shows that a plurality of active-duty service members, some 48%, oppose the military being used in the war with Iran.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, and he produces and edits analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
