Austin Rogers, who is running for Representative Neal Dunn's (R-FL) 2nd congressional district seat, discussed the ongoing conflict with Iran, the United States' relationship with Israel, and the surge in antisemitism with The Floridian, countering the narrative that President Donald Trump is doing Israel's bidding.
While concerns of the United States entering another "forever war" in the Middle East remain a talking point, Rogers took the opposite view, saying, "Nothing indicates to me that this is going to be a forever war. All signs indicate that it is going to be limited in scope and duration." Rogers commented that Trump has "proven time and again that he can be limited in scope and duration. He can be surgical in other contexts, and I do not see any reason not to trust him."
The conversation shifted to another talking point about the conflict, which is that Israel is making the United States attack Iran for its own benefit.
Rogers disagrees with that narrative, arguing that "the United States does not get dragged into anything we do not want to get dragged into. President Trump does not get dragged into anything that he does not want to get dragged into." He reiterated that "Israel is a strategic ally and partner," and is taking the opportunity to "cut the head off the snake of terrorism," since Iran is not only the number one state sponsor of terrorism, but was pursuing nuclear weapons.
This led to a discussion on the rise of antisemitism in the United States among the left and right, which Rogers said is an example of the horseshoe theory.
"You see it on the very, very far right and the very, very far left," he continued, suggesting, "I think you see it more on the left. I think you see it dividing the Democratic Party more than you see it dividing the Republican Party."
Rogers further noted that the rise in antisemitism "hinges on specific influential figures, like [Nick] Fuentes, and maybe a lot of younger people cotton to them and just hear their narrative and become interested in it."
