Trump Acknowledges Israel's Waning Congressional Influence Amid Shifting Public Opinion

President admits Israel's once "strongest lobby" in Congress has lost considerable sway.

President Donald Trump acknowledged that Israel's historically powerful influence over Congress has significantly diminished, marking a dramatic shift in American political dynamics as public support for Israel reaches historic lows. In a candid Oval Office interview with The Daily Caller, Trump expressed surprise at how Israel's once "total control over Congress" has eroded, attributing the change to progressive lawmakers and the unpopular war in Gaza that has damaged the country's global reputation.

The president's comments come as polling data shows unprecedented drops in American support for Israel, with only 32% of U.S. adults now approving of Israel's military actions in Gaza, according to recent Gallup surveys, while 60% of voters aged 18-24 express greater support for Hamas than Israel.

The End of Unchallenged Pro-Israel Dominance

Trump's assessment represents a remarkable admission from a president who has been among Israel's strongest supporters, having moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and brokered the Abraham Accords. "Israel was the strongest lobby I've ever seen. They had total control over Congress, and now they don't, you know, I'm a little surprised to see that," Trump told The Daily Caller.

The president recalled how dramatically the political landscape has changed over two decades. "Twenty years ago, Israel had the most powerful lobby I have ever seen. No politician could voice even the slightest criticism. Today, this is no longer the case," Trump explained.

"There was a time where you couldn't speak bad, if you wanted to be a politician, you couldn't speak badly. But today, you have AOC plus three, and you have all these lunatics, and they've really, they've changed it." — President Donald Trump

Trump specifically cited progressive lawmakers, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as catalysts for this shift. However, he described them using inflammatory language that reflects the deep partisan divisions over Middle East policy.

Gaza War Damages Israel's Global Standing

The president acknowledged that Israel's military campaign in Gaza, while potentially successful militarily, has severely damaged the country's international reputation. "They may be winning the war, but they're not winning the world of public relations," Trump said, warning that the conflict is "hurting Israel" globally.

Trump's assessment aligns with extensive polling data showing dramatic declines in American support for Israel's actions. A July 2025 Gallup poll revealed that approval for Israel's military actions dropped from 50% in November 2023 to just 32% currently, with disapproval rising to 60%. Among Democrats, approval has collapsed from 36% to just 8% over the same period.

The generational divide is particularly stark, with Americans under 35 showing only 9% approval for Israel's actions, compared to roughly half of those 55 and older who still support the military campaign. Most dramatically, 60% of voters aged 18-24 now express greater support for Hamas than Israel, according to recent Harris Poll data.

Republican Party Shows Cracks in Unity

Even within Trump's own political coalition, signs of division have emerged over Middle East policy. The president noted that Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, typically one of his most loyal supporters, has accused Israel of "genocide" in Gaza. At the same time, former advisor Steve Bannon has questioned the reliability of the Netanyahu government.

This fracturing became evident during congressional debates over Iran military action earlier this year, when Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky broke with traditional Republican unity to join Democrats in proposing legislation preventing unauthorized military strikes. The Kentucky Republican argued that military intervention was not constitutional without congressional approval.

Tucker Carlson, a prominent Trump ally, has also criticized potential American involvement in Middle East conflicts, warning that military engagement with Iran could "result in the deaths of thousands of Americans due to foreign agendas". This prompted a rare public disagreement with Trump, who responded on social media that "Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon".

Congressional Dynamics Reflect Public Opinion Shifts

The erosion of Israel's congressional influence reflects broader changes in American attitudes toward the Middle East. Recent polling by Pew Research shows that 53% of Americans now express unfavorable opinions of Israel, an 11-point increase since 2022, with very unfavorable views nearly doubling from 10% to 19%.

Democrats have become particularly critical, with 69% expressing unfavorable opinions of Israel compared to 37% of Republicans. However, even among Republicans, younger voters under 50 are now about evenly divided in their views of Israel, a dramatic shift from 2022 when they viewed Israel much more positively.

The changing dynamics have manifested in congressional voting patterns, though institutional support for Israel remains strong. Earlier this year, the House overwhelmingly rejected an attempt to block $500 million in missile defense funding for Israel by a vote of 422 to six. However, this decisive margin masks growing private concerns among lawmakers about their constituents' changing views.

The Influence of Progressive Advocacy

Trump attributed much of the shift to what he called "progressive lunatics," but polling experts point to more complex factors driving opinion change. Professor Shibley Telhami of the University of Maryland noted that younger Americans increasingly view the conflict through a human rights lens rather than traditional security considerations.

The influence of pro-Palestinian advocacy organizations has also grown, with groups successfully targeting pro-Israel lawmakers in Democratic primaries. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has responded by investing substantial resources in defending its allies, but faces an increasingly challenging political environment.

Policy vs. Public Opinion

Despite the dramatic shift in public sentiment, U.S. policy toward Israel has remained essentially unchanged, with billions in military assistance continuing to flow. This disconnect between public opinion and policy decisions reflects what experts describe as institutional momentum and the continued influence of pro-Israel advocacy groups in Washington.

However, Trump's acknowledgment of Israel's diminished congressional influence suggests recognition that political calculations around Middle East policy are changing. As the 2026 midterm elections approach, lawmakers may face increasing pressure to align their positions with shifting constituent views, particularly in districts with younger, more diverse electorates.

The president's comments mark a significant moment in U.S.-Israel relations, with even Israel's strongest American ally acknowledging that the era of unchallenged pro-Israel dominance in Washington may be ending. Whether this translates into actual policy changes will depend on how successfully advocates can convert shifting public opinion into electoral pressure on lawmakers who have traditionally provided unwavering support for Israel.