MAGA supporters sang the national anthem during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, on December 20, 2025. CHENEY ORR / REUTERS
There was a time when Israel represented a bipartisan consensus in the United States: Everyone supported the vital ally. That time has passed, both on the left and the right. The pace of history accelerated after October 7, the deadly Hamas attack, and the subsequent war in Gaza. Israel has become an obsession, a source of contention and fantasy. On the right, it is a litmus test for true adherence to the original promises of Trumpism – namely, “America First.” This test has emerged in a poisonous climate of antisemitism, conspiracy theories and criticism.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has had close ties to the American right for 40 years, is expected in Miami, Florida, on Monday, December 29, to meet with Donald Trump. The Gaza Strip – where Israeli war crimes have severely damaged Israel’s reputation around the world – will be on the agenda. The leader’s main concern remains the Iranian threat and the risk of renewed nuclear and ballistic programs. Nevertheless, Netanyahu cannot ignore the shifting debate in the US, especially among young Republicans.
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