Americanswers… on 5Live! Will Trump lose his MAGA base over Iran?
Americast
BBC
4.3 • 3.1K Ratings
🗓️ 16 March 2026
⏱️ 37 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
How serious is the growing split within Trump’s MAGA base, as prominent Republican commentators and influencers criticise why the US started a war with Iran, and how long it might go on for. Also, might Trump voters turn on the president who told them ‘no more wars’ and ‘America First’?
Justin, Sarah and Marianna join Matt Chorley on 5 Live to answer your questions. They also look at pressure from Trump for other countries to help police the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran is currently blocking to the United States and ‘its enemies’. The US president has said it would be “very bad for the future of Nato" if allies don't help, given its importance with world energy supplies. How much planning did the US put into a plan to protect the Strait of Hormuz? And can Trump convince NATO members to get involved now?
Plus, what did Hollywood say about Trump at last night’s Oscars - and does it even matter?
HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent • Matt Chorley, 5 Live presenter
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This episode was made by Rufus Gray, Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Rohan Madison. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, music radio podcasts. |
| 0:07.0 | On Newscast, we are not in the business of telling you how to think. |
| 0:11.5 | We get the brightest minds from across the BBC to chat through the biggest stories. |
| 0:16.1 | You should leave feeling smarter about all the bonkers things in the news. |
| 0:19.7 | Listen to Newscast every day on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:23.2 | They are not MAGA, I am. |
| 0:25.0 | And MAGA includes not allowing Iran a sick, demented and violent terrorist regime |
| 0:29.7 | to have a nuclear weapon. |
| 0:31.3 | Those are the words, you may have guessed, of Donald Trump. |
| 0:34.8 | And he is attempting to rally his own troops, his MAGA army, |
| 0:39.4 | make America great again, they said, and they rallied round him, but now it seems they are |
| 0:44.0 | rallying round all sorts of flags, not necessarily his. So, how serious is that for him, |
| 0:50.1 | for the American right? Mariana Sarah and I, take your questions on this with Matt Chorley on Five Live. |
| 0:56.0 | We also talk about whether America adequately planned for Iran blocking the strait of Hormuz |
| 1:01.4 | is NATO under threat plus the Oscars and Donald Trump's relationship with Hollywood. |
| 1:07.0 | Welcome to America Answers on Five Live. |
| 1:12.3 | Ameriast. AmeriCast. |
| 1:13.1 | AmeriCast from BBC News. |
| 1:15.5 | You hear that sound? |
| 1:16.6 | Oh, I think when I hear that sound, it reminds me of money. |
| 1:20.4 | Nicholas Maduro, he heft around, and he found out. |
| 1:23.7 | This is a big cover up, and this administration is engaged in it. |
... |
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