NEW YORK CITY (VINnews)-Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro downplayed divisions within the Republican Party over President Trump’s military campaign against Iran, saying vocal critics like Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens and Alex Jones represent only a fringe minority despite their large online followings.

Shapiro made the remarks in response to a question from Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich during a recent interview.

“Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens and Alex Jones came out against the war in Iran and then the President went after them on social media. How big of an issue do you take this to be for the Republican base?” Heinrich asked.

“I don’t think it’s a major issue for the Republican base,” Shapiro replied. “I think the President is exactly right to call this out for what it is, which is people who have fringe audiences. They have large numbers, but fringe audiences in terms of the broader overall Republican audience.”

Multiple polls conducted in March and early April 2026 showed Trump enjoying 80-90% support among Republicans for the U.S. strikes under Operation Epic Fury, which targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile capabilities, navy and terror proxies. A recent survey indicated that just 6% of likely Republican voters sided with the critics over the president on the issue.

The short-lived campaign, which ended with a ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, drew sharp criticism from some prominent conservative voices who questioned U.S. involvement and raised concerns about potential escalation.

Shapiro argued that attempts to frame the disagreement as a major rift ahead of the 2026 midterms overlook other key issues facing voters and the fast-moving news cycle.

“The attempt to turn this into a referendum on the midterm elections, number 1, ignores the fact that there are a lot of other factors in a midterm election, and number 2, we will go through about 1,000 news cycles between now and November when the election actually takes place,” he said.

The operation, launched Feb. 28, achieved its core objectives in under 40 days, according to the Trump administration, significantly degrading Iran’s ability to project power and threaten the region, including Israel.

Shapiro’s comments reflect strong overall Republican backing for Trump’s “peace through strength” approach to Iran, even as a vocal isolationist wing of the party continues to voice opposition online.