WASHINGTON (Dispatches) – U.S. President Donald Trump has said Israel has lost its once-dominant influence over the U.S. Congress, calling the shift “amazing” and expressing surprise at the rapid erosion of its political clout.
Speaking to right-wing outlet Daily Caller, Trump said Israel had previously wielded unmatched lobbying power on Capitol Hill, describing its influence as stronger than any country, corporation, or interest group he had seen. 
“They had total control over Congress, and now they don’t,” Trump said. “I’m a little surprised to see that.”
Trump’s remarks reflect a broader shift in U.S. political attitudes toward Israel, as public and congressional criticism of the occupying regime’s military atrocities in Gaza continues to grow. 
While his administration was one of the most overtly pro-Israel in recent history, even Trump acknowledged growing discontent, particularly among younger voters and within his own Republican base.
A recent Quinnipiac University poll found that 60% of Americans now oppose sending additional military aid to Israel—marking the highest level of opposition recorded since the poll began tracking the issue in November 2023. Only 32% support continued arms transfers. 
The sentiment was particularly pronounced among Democrats (75% opposed) and Independents (66% opposed), while Republican support, though still a majority, has declined to 56%.
Critics argue that U.S. support for Israel has undercut American foreign policy credibility and weakened the “America First” agenda Trump has long championed. 
Far-right lawmakers like Marjorie Taylor Greene and conservative commentators such as Tucker Carlson have openly questioned the billions of dollars in U.S. aid sent to support Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, which human rights groups have described as collective punishment and potentially genocidal in scope.
Public sympathy for Palestinians has also grown. In the same poll, more Americans expressed support for Palestinians (37%) than for Israelis (36%), with 27% expressing no preference. This represents a dramatic shift from earlier decades when support for Israel among U.S. voters was overwhelmingly dominant.
Israel’s continued occupation, settlement expansion, and the devastating impact of its military invasions on Gaza’s civilian population have drawn increasing scrutiny, particularly among younger voters, progressives, and international observers. Humanitarian groups have repeatedly warned of mass displacement, widespread civilian casualties, and the collapse of essential infrastructure in Gaza.
While Israel remains a key U.S. ally, the growing skepticism in Congress and among the public may signal a recalibration of American foreign policy in the region—one where unconditional support for Israel is no longer politically unassailable.