President Donald Trump is moving more firmly into the camp of Washington’s defense hawks with a muscular foreign policy that cuts against the calls from his own base to retreat from the world stage.

Trump has repeatedly worried congressional Republicans with his on-and-off commitment to Ukraine’s war against Russia and entered office taking a decidedly noninterventionist approach to foreign policy.

Yet in recent months, Trump has eased those doubts, supporting military intervention in Iran, Venezuela, and beyond. Most recently, he surprised political observers when he called on Congress to fund a significant increase in defense spending next year.

The White House says there is no conflict between Trump’s embrace of military engagement and his “America First” promises on the campaign trail. In a statement, White House National Security Council communications director Anna Kelly underscored how Trump “has built the largest coalition of Republicans, and Americans, in political history through ‘America First’ domestic and foreign policy.”

“His ‘peace through strength’ agenda has led to better trade deals, a 5% defense spending pledge from NATO allies, eight peace agreements, and more,” Kelly told the Washington Examiner. “It’s indisputable that American leadership is back under this president, and all of his actions have made our country safer and stronger.”

Still, with his emphasis on foreign policy, Trump has upset allies, including ex-Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), along with other GOP colleagues, who are complaining that the president is neglecting domestic priorities.

At the same time, defense hawks have been quick to congratulate Trump on his capture of Maduro.

“Maduro is a thug, and the hemisphere would be safer without this lackey of Iran, Russia, and China in power,” Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said in a statement on X on Jan. 3. “@POTUS has broad constitutional authority and long historical precedent for the limited use of military force, and I’m grateful to the U.S. personnel who carried out orders in harm’s way.”

Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) told reporters aboard Air Force One Sunday after the Maduro capture, alongside Trump, to “wait for Cuba.”

“Cuba is a communist dictatorship that’s killed priests and nuns,” he said. “They’ve preyed on their own people. Their days are numbered.”