Trump Struggling With Jewish Voters

The internal debate within the Democratic Party over U.S. policy toward Israel during its conflict with Hamas has posed challenges for President Joe Biden, but it has not been a severe setback.

A survey conducted by the American Jewish Committee in 2024, which included 1,001 Jewish adults in the United States, indicates that Biden’s approval ratings in the upcoming presidential election remain consistent with his performance in the 2020 exit polls.

The 2024 survey reveals Biden leading former President Donald Trump among Jewish voters, with 61% supporting Biden and 23% backing Trump. In the 2020 election, Biden secured 69% of the Jewish vote compared to Trump’s 31%, according to AP VoteCast data.

Despite Trump’s efforts to attract Jewish voters by criticizing Biden’s approach to the Gaza conflict, these attempts have not significantly shifted voter sentiments. The poll shows that when asked who would better manage the U.S.-Israel relationship, 49% favored Biden over Trump’s 25%. Additionally, 55% of respondents believed Biden would be more effective in combating antisemitism in the U.S., compared to 20% for Trump.

In recent public appearances, Biden has reaffirmed his commitment to combating antisemitism and strengthening U.S.-Israel relations, such as during his speech at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Days of Remembrance ceremony. Nonetheless, Biden faced backlash from pro-Israel advocates after he halted some weapons shipments to Israel in response to its planned operations in Rafah.

Since the Gaza conflict erupted following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Biden has been under pressure from the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, which has demanded an immediate ceasefire despite Hamas holding Israeli hostages. Over the past weekend, Israel successfully rescued four hostages taken by Hamas, underscoring the ongoing complexity of the situation.