Israel is losing US support - even among Republicans - CNN's Harry Enten

I think the question is going to be if these young Republican numbers hold, and we see this right here, will AIPAC and Israel possibly become a boogeyman on the right as well?

We're not really quite sure at this point, given how quickly these numbers have changed.

Maybe they'll change back the other way in four years' time.

But the bottom line is this.

Views on Israel have shifted tremendously in a lot of unexpected places, not just on the left wing of the Democratic Party. Allright.

So this was me running all the numbers on Israel's U.S. popularity problem.

If you have another topic that you want me to cover, leave a comment in the comment section and we'll see if we'll do it next time around.

Hey there, I'm Harry Enten, and today we are running all the numbers on Israel's U.S. popularity problem. Israel is losing support here in the United States, even amongst Republicans. Take a look at this data:

Take a look at this data amongst young Republicans.

Look at this massive shift that we have had over just the last four years.

The net favorability of Israel among Republicans under the age of 50.

You know, you go back to 2022, two thumbs up, two thumbs up for Israel amongst young Republicans.

But by 2025, look at this. Already a 30-point shift away.

Their net favorability down to -2.

Today, look at this. -16 points.

That's an over 40-point shift in just one, two, three, four years' time away from Israel amongst young Republicans.

But that's not the only part of the Republican base where Israel is struggling.

How about amongst moderate or liberal Republicans?

They make up about a third of the Republican base at this point in time.

The net favorability of Israel with moderate liberal Republicans back in 2022, again, two thumbs up.

You'll notice I do a lot of Cisco and Ebert references. I just really like them.

At plus 26 points today, again, negative territory, -9 points.

That's a 35-point shift in just four years' time with moderate liberal Republicans shifting away from Israel.

And this, to me, gives you a good indication of why, why one of the more ardent critics of Israel within the Republican Party is actually, at this point, favored to win a competitive primary.

You may know him, Thomas Masse.

He, of course, is the representative from Kentucky's Fourth District.

He has been opposed by Donald Trump.

Donald Trump has endorsed his opponent.

Pro-Israel voices are also opposed.

Many of them have also opposed Thomas Masse.

But at this point, look at this:

His chance of being the Republican nominee, winning that Republican primary in Kentucky's Fourth District, is actually more likely than not to occur. Look at this. According to the Cowshed Prediction Market at this point, a 71% chance.

But here's the thing. Again, I'm building blocks here. It's not just on the right.

It's not just amongst Republicans where Israel is losing support amongst the unexpected places.

How about among younger men, younger men who were a key part of Donald John Trump's coalition back in 2024?

They have very much shifted away from Israel. Look at this.

Net favorability of Israel among men under the age of 50 in 2022, not too bad, but not too hot to trot either at -3 points.

By 2025, again, down we go. -22 points.

That is just that is a 19-point shift in just three years' time.

But it gets even worse. Look at this for Israel.

-47 points. That's a 44-point shift away from Israel on the net favorability amongst young men who, of course, shifted massively into the Republican column back in 2024, and they have been shifting away from Israel over the last four years.

But here's the thing.

You want to talk about unexpected, perhaps no number I have seen is more unexpected than this one, because when we talk about the Democratic base, right, and we talk about them being against Israel, that's been true amongst liberal and very little liberal Democrats for a decent period of time.

But now we're even seeing it among moderate and conservative Democrats.

Because take a look at these numbers. I mean, this is a sea change.

This is a sea change. Net favorability of Israel amongst non-liberal Democrats, that is, those who identify as either moderate or conservative.

Back in 2022, Israel was on the plus side ledger.

I'll give it one thumbs up at plus three points. Look at this.

By 2025, -30 points. That's a 33-point shift in just three years' time.

You think that's a big shift? How about now? Look at this.

Among moderate conservative Democrats, the net favor of Israel down into the Sea of Galilee at -55 points.

That's a nearly 60-point switcheroo in just four years' time.

Now, why are we seeing these shifts?

Why are we seeing these shifts amongst Democrats, amongst Republicans, at least certain portions of the Republican electorate?

And why are we seeing it among younger men who are a big part of Trump's coalition?

It is because it is part of a larger sea change against Israel.

I mean, just take a look at these overall numbers right now.

The net favorability of Israel among all adults in 2022, it was plus 13 points.

I'll give that two thumbs up. Look at by 2025, -8 points.

That's a 21-point switch in just three years.

And now the net favorability of Israel amongst all adults, -23 points.

That's a 36-point change in just four years' time amongst all adults.

Now, okay, that's part of the reason why that we're seeing these groups within these shifts, right? A rising tide lifts all boats. But it's more than that.

How about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which, of course, has been taking center stage over the past few years here in America, especially after the October 7th attacks and then Israel's response to it?

Take a look here. I mean, this is a change. This is a change.

Who Americans sympathize more with? The Israelis or the Palestinians?

Back in 2022, before the October 7th attacks, it was the Israelis by 28 points.

That would even climb into the 40s, 50s, depending on which polling you looked at in terms of who Americans sympathize with.

The margin very much on the side of Israel.

But look at where we are now.

In 2026, Americans sympathize more with the Palestinians by an 11-point margin. That is a shift of nearly 40 points in just four years' time.

And when you compare it to 2023, after the October 7th attacks, we're talking about what?

A 50, 60-point change? My goodness gracious.

This is the best position that the Palestinians have ever been in, in the minds of the American public.

The Palestinians making history in terms of who Americans sympathize more with.

But it is not just the Israelis and the Palestinian conflict in which why we're seeing these shifts among all these different groups and overall as well.

It is because of the man who right now is the Prime Minister, the longtime Prime Minister of Israel, who's been Prime Minister at least in parts all the way back to my childhood.

I mean, I think he was the Prime Minister when I was like eight or nine.

That is how long. And while I look young, I'm not that young anymore.

But take a look at Bibi Netanyahu.

Look at his net favorability rating here in the United States.

In early 2024, he was on the plus side of the ledger at plus nine points.

But look now, look now, -23 points again, an over 30-point shift in the wrong direction.

If you are a fan of Bibi Netanyahu here in the United States and among independents, we're talking about that his net favorability rating at this point is a -35 points in the average poll.

He is about as popular as Donald Trump is here in the United States.

And of course, Trump ain't too hot to trot to borrow a phrase I used earlier on.

And here's the other thing, which is this is starting to have major electoral ramifications.

Israel has become a four-letter word in Democratic primaries.

And one way you can see that is AIPAC, right?

AIPAC, the lobbying group.

Google searches for AIPAC in 2026, up like a rocket, up 363% versus last year, reached an all-time high last month.

You often hear those on the left using AIPAC, using AIPAC against their opponents if they have, in fact, taken money from AIPAC.

I'm not expecting that to change anytime soon on the left.

Harry Enten discusses the declining popularity of Israel in the U.S., showing data that reveals a sharp drop in net favorability:

*among young Republicans (over 40-point decline since 2022),

*moderate/liberal Republicans (35-point decline),

*young men (44-point decline),

*moderate/conservative Democrats (nearly 60-point decline).

Overall, Israel's net favorability among all adults shifted from +13 points in 2022 to -23 points in 2026.

Sympathy among Americans has shifted from favoring Israelis by 28 points in 2022 to favoring Palestinians by 11 points in 2026, a nearly 40-point swing.

Netanyahu's net favorability in the U.S. also dropped from +9 points in early 2024 to -23 points.

These shifts have electoral consequences, with Israel becoming a contentious issue in Democratic primaries and rising scrutiny of pro-Israel lobbying groups like AIPAC.

The changes reflect a broader sea change in American attitudes toward Israel across political and demographic lines.

Key Points

Who is Harry Enten and what topic is he discussing?

Harry Enten is a political analyst discussing Israel's declining popularity in the United States.

How has Israel's net favorability changed among young Republicans under 50 from 2022 to 2026?

Israel's net favorability among young Republicans under 50 has dropped from a positive rating in 2022 to -16 points in 2026, a shift of over 40 points in four years.

What shift has occurred among moderate or liberal Republicans regarding Israel's favorability?

Among moderate or liberal Republicans, Israel's net favorability shifted from +26 points in 2022 to -9 points in 2026, a 35-point decline.

Who is Thomas Masse and what is his significance in this context?

Thomas Masse is a Republican representative from Kentucky's Fourth District, an ardent critic of Israel, opposed by Donald Trump and pro-Israel voices, but currently favored to win his Republican primary with a 71% chance.

How have young men's views on Israel changed from 2022 to 2026?

Young men under 50 have shifted from a net favorability of -3 points in 2022 to -47 points in 2026, a 44-point decline.

What change has occurred among moderate and conservative Democrats regarding Israel's favorability?

Among moderate and conservative Democrats, Israel's net favorability dropped from +3 points in 2022 to -55 points in 2026, nearly a 60-point decline.

What overall trend is seen in Israel's net favorability among all U.S. adults from 2022 to 2026?

Israel's net favorability among all adults declined from +13 points in 2022 to -23 points in 2026, a 36-point drop.

How has American sympathy shifted between Israelis and Palestinians from 2022 to 2026?

American sympathy shifted from favoring Israelis by 28 points in 2022 to favoring Palestinians by 11 points in 2026, a nearly 40-point swing.

What is the trend in Benjamin Netanyahu's favorability in the U.S. from early 2024 to 2026?

Netanyahu's net favorability dropped from +9 points in early 2024 to -23 points in 2026, a decline of over 30 points.

What political impact is Israel's declining popularity having in U.S. elections?

Israel has become a contentious issue in Democratic primaries, with increased attention on APAC, and there is uncertainty if it will become a similar issue among Republicans due to shifting opinions.