Trump‘s Base Divided on Israel as Gaza Crisis deepens, Analysts Say
Former President Donald Trump’s public criticism of Israel’s handling of the humanitarian situation in Gaza could alienate a segment of his base, according too political observers. The comments come as new polling indicates a significant drop in American support for Israel‘s military actions in the region.
Steve Bannon, a former Trump strategist, told Politico that President Trump’s condemnation of the food situation in Gaza would accelerate Israel’s loss of support among his base. Bannon suggested that for the under-30 demographic within the MAGA base,support for Israel is minimal. He also stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s perceived attempts to prolong the conflict by involving the U.S. further have alienated older, staunch MAGA supporters. Bannon believes Trump’s public rejection of the strategy of “starving” Palestinians will hasten a decline in support.
Adding to the growing dissent,Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene,a prominent Trump supporter,has labeled Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide.” She posted on X, formerly Twitter, that while the October 7th attacks in Israel were horrific and all hostages must be returned, the “genocide, humanitarian crisis, and starvation happening in Gaza” is equally undeniable.
Thes statements coincide with a new Gallup poll revealing that American support for Israel’s actions in Gaza has fallen to 32%, the lowest point since the institution began tracking this data in November 2023. This period followed the Hamas raid that resulted in the deaths of nearly 1,200 mostly israeli civilians and the taking of approximately 250 hostages.
According to the Gaza health ministry, Israel’s military response has led to an estimated 60,000 Palestinian deaths.
While the Gallup poll indicates that 71% of Republicans still support Israel’s offensive,Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC),who is not seeking re-election,suggested that the Gaza crisis could pose a political challenge for Trump. The Hill reported Tillis stating that the American people are compassionate and dislike witnessing suffering, implying that the president shares this sentiment and would seek to alleviate it.
In contrast, Mike Huckabee, the U.S. Ambassador to israel, asserted on Fox News that Trump’s support for Netanyahu remains steadfast. huckabee assured that there is no rift between the two leaders and that their relationship, along with the U.S.-Israel relationship, is stronger than ever.
