Key points
- Trump told the Daily Caller in an Oval Office interview that the Israeli lobby “doesn’t have that strong a lobby” anymore, calling the shift over two decades “surprising”.
- Bipartisan pushback on Israel’s Gaza campaign has intensified on Capitol Hill, with efforts to restrict certain arms and public rebukes of the Netanyahu government.
- Pew data from late March shows unfavorable views of Israel rose to 53% from 42% in 2022, with notable increases among Republicans under 50 and Democrats across ages.
- Trump insisted he has done “more for Israel” than any president, but warned the war is harming Israel’s public image and urged it to “get that war over with”.
Washington D.C.: Trump says the once-dominant Israeli lobby has lost clout in Congress, reflecting broader shifts in US opinion on Israel as bipartisan criticism of the Gaza war grows and polling shows rising unfavorable views, especially among younger Americans and under‑50 Republicans.
vTrump’s remarks: surprise at shifting power
In an Oval Office interview published by the Daily Caller, Trump said that roughly 20 years ago Israel had “the strongest lobby in Congress,” but “today, it doesn’t have that strong a lobby,” calling the change “really surprising” given its historical influence on Capitol Hill. He paired the observation with a warning that Israel’s ongoing war is damaging its global standing and urged an end to the conflict to stem reputational harm.
Context: bipartisan criticism of Gaza campaign
Lawmakers in both parties have sharpened scrutiny of Israel’s military conduct as Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens, with some pushing to curb specific weapons transfers and others tabling resolutions signaling displeasure with the Netanyahu government’s approach. While many Democrats still affirm Israel’s right to self‑defense after October 7, the once‑stable bipartisan consensus has notably frayed, reflecting constituent sentiment shifts and intraparty debates.
Polling: unfavorable views rise, especially among younger voters
A late‑March Pew survey found 53% of Americans now hold an unfavorable view of Israel versus 42% in 2022, capturing a sharp movement in opinion since before the current war. The jump is particularly striking among Republicans aged 18–49 (from 35% to 50% unfavorable) and Democrats of all ages (with 69% unfavorable overall), underscoring a generational and cross‑party recalibration.
Trump’s Israel record and October 7 framing
Trump reiterated that no US president has “done more for Israel,” citing his past actions and recent posture while simultaneously stressing that October 7 was “a really terrible day,” framing his current critique as compatible with strong support for Israel’s security. He warned that denialism about atrocities and war realities can worsen perceptions, arguing that Israel is winning tactically but losing ground in “public opinion and public image”.
Capitol Hill dynamics: what’s changed
Republican criticism, once rare on Israel policy, has grown in segments of the party aligned with “America First” restraint, with some members calling to halt funding given civilian casualties in Gaza. In the Senate, attempts to block certain exports—even if unsuccessful—signaled the erosion of the old consensus and a willingness to rebuke Netanyahu’s government publicly.
What to watch next
- Further polling on generational and partisan divides could confirm whether the opinion shift hardens or moderates as the war’s trajectory changes.
- Congressional moves on arms sales, conditions on aid, or symbolic resolutions will serve as real‑time indicators of the lobby’s practical sway and bipartisan tolerance for Israel’s Gaza strategy.
