Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly launched a scathing attack on Sen. Lindsey Graham on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, calling the South Carolina Republican a “homicidal maniac with an insatiable appetite for violence” as rifts within the MAGA movement widened over President Donald Trump’s military actions in Iran.
Kelly, who hosts “The Megyn Kelly Show” on SiriusXM, vented her outrage after Graham went on a Fox News tour advocating greater U.S. military involvement in Lebanon and Cuba and threatening Spain for opposing strikes on Iran.
The clash is the latest flashpoint in what analysts are calling a MAGA civil war, as prominent Trump backers break over Operation Epic Fury—the combined U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran that has killed more than 1,200 people and resulted in the deaths of seven U.S. service members in retaliatory attacks.
Graham guested on several Fox News shows Sunday and Monday, including interviews with Maria Bartiromo and Sean Hannity, where he proclaimed steadfast backing for ongoing military measures. During his Bartiromo appearance he wore “Free Cuba” and “Make Iran Great Again” hats, asserting that “the liberation of Cuba is upon us.”
“We’re gonna blow the **** out of these people,” Graham told Bartiromo, vowing that Iran’s leadership would collapse within two weeks.
Kelly widened her critique to include Graham’s sway over Trump, highlighting his influence. Reporting in the Wall Street Journal said Graham travelled to Israel repeatedly to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and intelligence officials who shared classified material with Trump that helped persuade him to authorize the strikes.
Kelly urged Trump to keep Graham out of his inner circle, posting “For the love of God this man should never be in Trump’s orbit again” and insisting he be kept at least 20 feet away from the president. She also criticized Sean Hannity as a “supplicant to Donald Trump” who would not challenge the president.
Kelly’s stance aligned her with other MAGA figures such as Tucker Carlson and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who have condemned the Iranian strikes. Carlson described the campaign as “absolutely disgusting and evil,” prompting Trump to label him “not MAGA” and say he had “lost his way.”
Conservative voices backing Trump’s actions pushed back. Ben Shapiro called Kelly “such an unbelievable coward” for not naming Trump directly in her criticism, while Mark Levin labeled her a “Crazy Grandma Groyper.” MAGA influencer Laura Loomer attacked Kelly as “not MAGA” and told her to “shut up.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt downplayed the infighting, telling reporters that Trump “is the leader of MAGA” and asserting “there is nothing more America First than taking out terrorists.”
Several polls indicate notable public disapproval of the Iranian strikes. A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed 27% approval versus 43% disapproval, while a CNN poll reported 59% disapproval. An NPR/PBS News/Marist survey found 56% oppose U.S. military action, with 59% of independents disapproving of Trump’s handling of Iran.
Kelly acknowledged the split within Trump’s supporters, saying service members “died for Iran, or for Israel” rather than the United States. She argued the government’s duty is to defend American citizens, not foreign countries.
On Hannity’s show Monday, Graham threatened to withdraw U.S. military bases from Spain after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez criticized the Iranian strikes, saying the country had “lost your way.” Rep. Tim Burchett joined the attack, calling Graham a “war pimp.”
Trump has insisted his base remains loyal despite the criticism. The president told reporters, “MAGA is Trump,” and described the Iran conflict as “a detour that we have to take in order to keep our country safe.”
