Nearly half of MAGA Trump voters support Israeli govt amid GOP rift; 41% say Gaza campaign justified: Poll

The Republican Party is beginning to see a deep divide over its support for Israel, despite President ’s most loyal supporters continuing to back the close US ally.

Politico reported on Saturday (local time) that a new poll found self-identified Make America Great Again () Trump voters are far more supportive of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and its relationship with Washington than those who do not identify as MAGA but still voted for Trump.

Half of MAGA Trump voters back Israel: Poll

According to the survey, nearly half of MAGA-aligned Trump voters support and approve of the actions of its current government, compared with just 29 per cent of non-MAGA Trump voters. The poll also found that 41 per cent of MAGA voters believe Israel’s military campaign in is justified, versus 31 per cent of non-MAGA voters. Meanwhile, 24 per cent of MAGA voters said Israel was initially justified but has since gone too far, compared with 31 per cent of non-MAGA voters.

The survey also suggests that MAGA voters are moderately supportive of Israel and are more likely to continue backing the longtime US ally despite divisions within the . These rifts could have major implications for the future of the US-Israel alliance and for Republican efforts to hold together the coalition that helped return Trump to the White House ahead of a challenging midterm election cycle.

Democrats blamed Biden administration for Gaza approach

Politics surrounding the have shifted rapidly in recent years, with the Democratic Party divided over support for Israel. Some Democrats have also blamed former President Joe Biden’s administration’s handling of the Gaza conflict for contributing to the party’s loss of the White House in 2024.

At least 35 per cent of voters who supported former Vice President believed that Israel was initially justified in its actions in Gaza but has since gone too far. Only 10 per cent of Harris voters believe Israel is still justified in its conduct of the Gaza war. Meanwhile, 27 per cent said Israel’s military campaign was never justified, while another 28 per cent said they were unsure.

These figures highlight the sharp decline in Democratic support for a military campaign that previously received strong backing from the administration.

Republicans were unified in support of Israel

The survey suggests that Republicans were largely unified in their support for Israel in the immediate aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attacks by . However, amid the US conflict with Iran and growing unease over Trump’s foreign policy interventions, Washington’s position now appears less stable among the non-MAGA wing of the Republican Party and younger conservatives.

Israeli government hold too much influence over US foreign policy?

The survey by Public First found that non-MAGA Trump voters are 10 percentage points more likely than MAGA voters to believe the holds too much influence over US foreign policy.

High-profile Republicans such as Tucker Carlson, former Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Steve Bannon have criticised Washington’s close relationship with Israel, especially as tensions with Iran escalate. Meanwhile, most Republican members of Congress, along with conservative commentators such as Laura Loomer and Ben Shapiro, have remained firmly pro-Israel and supportive of the president’s actions.

Trump spends more time on international issues

While MAGA Trump voters appear more accepting of the ’s foreign policy agenda, at least 29 per cent of Trump voters in 2024 said he has focused too heavily on international affairs at the expense of domestic issues. Only 19 per cent of MAGA Trump voters said the president has spent too much time on global affairs. Among non-MAGA Trump voters, that figure rose to 40 per cent.

However, it remains to be seen if Trump’s backing of the Israeli government will push any more Republicans further away.