JD Vance Sends Message to Trump's Warring MAGA Base

By Jordan King

US News Reporter

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Vice President JD Vance publicly addressed growing divisions in the MAGA movement, saying: "Have our debates, but focus on the enemy."

He made the comments during a policy discussion hosted by Breitbart News on Thursday.

Why it Matters

The MAGA movement, which propelled President Donald Trump to office twice, faces internal discord over key issues including immigration, foreign policy and the ongoing U.S. relationship with Israel.

As Republican leaders contemplate the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential race, unity within MAGA remains critical to their political prospects.

What To Know

Breitbart Washington Bureau Chief Matthew Boyle asked Vance about how to unify the MAGA movement in light of "divisions inside Congress, outside Congress."

Vance said: "I think we have to remember that we have a lot more in common than we do not in common, and that the disagreements that animate the Republican Party, while they matter, and they're important—I think these debates should happen, and they should happen in podcasts and they should happen in the media, they should happen in the op-ed pages, it's totally reasonable for the people who make up this coalition to argue about what our foreign policy should be, what our specific tax policy should be, what our housing policy should be.

He continued: "Let these debates play out—but don't let these debates that we're having internally blind us to the fact that we are up against a radical leftist movement…That is the real opponent here…"

"Focus on the enemy. Have our debates, but focus on the enemy so we can win victories that matter for the American people."

...

MAGA’s internal schisms have intensified throughout 2025, with fierce reactions to President Trump’s comments on skilled immigration and the H-1B visa program.

In a Fox News interview, Trump said the U.S. needs to "bring in talent," which some in the movement feel is contrary to their traditional America First stance.

Matt Morse, an "America First" content creator and commentator, called the interview "catastrophic for Trump." He wrote on X: "Whoever's in Trump's inner-circle that's been telling him that we need more H-1B visas, 50 year mortgages, and 600,000 Chinese students needs to be FIRED IMMEDIATELY. AMERICA FIRST."

In September, Trump announced a new $100,000 fee for the H-1B program, saying the statute had been open to "systemic abuse" and artificially suppressed wages.

A White House official previously told Newsweek that the 600,000 figure is a two-year estimate that amounts to the same number of people the current policy allows.

Foreign policy further split the base. The U.S. backing for Israel’s strikes on Iran and the ongoing war in Gaza fractured support among MAGA adherents, separating major voices such as commentators Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens.

There is also upheaval about figures such as Nick Fuentes a far-right commentator who was interviewed by Carlson.

The interview drew widespread backlash, including from MAGA figures such as Texas Senator Ted Cruz, for giving a platform to extremist views—Fuentes has espoused Holocaust denial and white nationalist ideology.

But Trump told reporters: "You can’t tell (Carlson) who to interview—if he wants to interview Nick Fuentes, I don’t know much about him, but if he wants to do it…you know people have to decide, ultimately the people have to decide."

What People Are Saying

Professor of Media and Public Affairs, George Washington University, Peter Loge previously told Newsweek: "I think the MAGA base is splitting. Donald Trump will never lose his core support, but what it means to be MAGA or a true Republican is now suddenly being debated."

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly previously told Newsweek: "President Trump is right—America benefits from strong educational institutions, which is why he’s taken unprecedented action to restore merit at our publicly funded colleges and universities and remove woke DEI nonsense. Allowing American higher education to thrive exemplifies America First."

What Happens Next

The impact of these divisions will be tested in the 2026 midterm elections and as jockeying begins for 2028 and beyond.

The coming months are likely to see further public debates over both domestic and foreign policy in the MAGA-aligned media ecosystem. The reaction of voters in competitive districts will serve as a litmus test for whether the movement’s internal disagreements will hinder Republican prospects, or if leaders like Vance can redirect energies toward common priorities.

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