A MAGA coalition rift has burst into public view, pitting traditionalist Catholics against evangelicals. The split in the MAGA alliance centers on Israel and threatens a wider GOP fight before the midterms. Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission fired Carrie Prejean Boller last month, a decision that sharpened the fracture in Trump’s coalition. Prejean Boller, a former model and activist who converted to Catholicism last year, defended conspiratorial claims by Candace Owens. She also said, “Catholics do not embrace Zionism,” and critics seized on that line.
Israel and Iran tensions collide with online influence
After her removal became formal on March 12, Prejean Boller accused the commission of pressuring her to violate Catholic teaching. She condemned Trump, who she claims betrayed MAGA Catholics. She also claimed the U.S. government is “occupied by a foreign government named Israel,” framing her firing as persecution. Evangelical Trump supporters pushed back, accusing her and other conservative Catholics of antisemitism.
Cruz boost sends a viral broadside into the mainstream
As Israel and the United States began a war with Iran, a viral X post by “Insurrection Barbie” drew more than 5 million views. Ted Cruz shared it, and he called it the best explanation of “what we’re fighting.” The post alleged a network of political Catholic integralists and media provocateurs aims to dismantle the evangelical foundation of the right. It named groups like the Heritage Foundation, Catholic Answers, and the Society of St. Pius X. Traditionalist Catholics responded with indignation, calling the claims bigotry.
Supporters and detractors warn of fallout for the GOP
Prejean Boller gained visibility among the Catholic right, and Catholics for Catholics presented her with a “Catholic Champion Award” on March 19. The group also spotlighted Joe Kent after he resigned on March 17. He blamed Israel’s lobby for the Iran war. Prejean Boller then declared, “MAGA is Dead,” because she said Trump no longer represents supporters. Some Catholic leaders fear rising antisemitism, causing U.S. bishops to promote a video urging Catholics to reject conspiracies. Massimo Faggioli warned that church leaders must oppose antisemitism while still critiquing Israel’s actions in Gaza. Austen Ivereigh argued the war exposed apocalyptic Zionism, but he also said MAGA can feel anti-Catholic and racist. Supporters of strong U.S.-Israel alignment fear that anti-Zionism masks antisemitism and could fuel harassment. Detractors of the Iran war fear foreign-policy fealty overrides conscience, and they worry Catholics will lose a home in Trumpism.
MAGA followers have a new enemy: Traditionalist Catholics
Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash
About Post Author
