Jerusalem
President Donald Trump said “great dislike” for Israel was one of the reasons Republicans lost the midterm elections, along with the war in Iran and the resulting rise in gasoline prices.
“I think if I had been on the ballot, it would have been a lot different because you saw the level of popularity and love,” Trump said in an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” that aired Sunday. “But there’s something beyond that. They didn’t like the war. They didn’t like the fact that gasoline went up, because I had it down to the lowest, and there’s a great dislike, incredibly, for Israel.”
Trump’s comments underscore a sea change in American politics where Israel once enjoyed bipartisan support, as well as strong support from both Republican and Democratic presidents. But the scale of U.S. military and financial support for Israel has emerged as a frequent political liability in midterm elections.
Democratic senator-elect from Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed, may have been the most prominent critic of Israel during the election, but he was far from the only one. Even Vice President JD Vance has suggested that Republicans should rethink their once staunch support for Israel.
Trump said he shared Vance’s position that the war with Iran was one of the reasons for the Republican defeat. But he said he did not regret his decision to start the war. “You can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon. I think, historically, it will be a very good decision. Is it a good decision for today and tomorrow? Maybe not. But you know, I have to choose what is good for our country. If they had a nuclear weapon during my term, I would be criticized a lot more than what happened.”
The president also said other countries, including Israel, should share the costs of the war.
“The countries that we protected are going to reimburse us for all the costs that we incurred for the war, because without us, they would not exist. Without us, Israel would not exist,” Trump said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long presented himself as the leader best able to manage relations with the United States and particularly with Trump. But in just a few days, Trump has signaled that major changes could come.
“Democrats and Republicans are competing to see who can stand out from us more,” Israeli journalist Amir Tibon wrote on X. “And if we don’t act quickly, the new Congress will start blocking arms sales.” Tibon called for a new government that can begin “to repair the damage that Netanyahu leaves behind.”
On U.S. election day, Trump said he would end $4 billion in annual aid to Israel this year, potentially cutting one of the key elements of Israel’s security strategy. Days later, Netanyahu said the aid would be transferred to a “partnership,” but did not say whether Trump had warned him of the surprise announcement.
On Sunday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog made an indirect reference to the changing American and international perception of the country, tasking Netanyahu’s rival Gadi Eisenkot with forming the next government.
“The challenges facing the State of Israel are immense. Some require urgent and immediate attention,” he said. “Iran does not stop for a moment in its plans and threats. We must work to build a diplomatic horizon in the region and for the aftermath of the war.”
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