At a time when the whole world is openly talking about genocide in Gaza, it seems to come as a surprise to Donald Trump the change in the dynamics of the Israeli lobby in Congress, as he stated in an interview with the Daily Caller when asked whether he was concerned about the decline in Republican support for Israel.
«Once upon a time, if you wanted to get into politics, you couldn't say anything bad about Israel. It had the strongest lobby I've ever seen, with absolute control over Congress,» he said, expressing his surprise at the current decline in influence.
Of course, his observation coincides with a period in which polls show a significant decline in Benjamin Netanyahu's positive image in the US. According to a YouGov poll published on August 8, 2025, Netanyahu's approval rating stands at just 22%, with 42% expressing a negative opinion and the remaining 36% not taking a position.
Beyond the American political scene, Trump argued that the ongoing conflict in Gaza is seriously damaging Israel's international image. «They may be winning on the battlefield, but they are losing the public relations war,» he noted, adding that global public opinion has «forgotten October 7,» which reinforces the negative attitude toward the Israeli state.
Realism or rupture?;
These statements raise questions about Trump's future stance toward his ally and friend Netanyahu. Despite his insistence that «no one has been a bigger supporter of Israel» than himself, his comments could be interpreted as distancing himself from his unconditional support for Israel.
The question that arises is whether Trump recognizes that the genocidal war against the Palestinians is costing Israel politically and diplomatically.
Vasiliki Pourlioti
