National Poll: Younger Republicans Are Diverging From Party Leadership On Israel
A poll released on December 16 by IMEU Policy Project, and conducted by YouGov, found a generational gap has emerged in the Republican Party on Israel and the US-Israel relationship. The survey of 1,287 Republicans found that a majority of Republican voters under age 45 say they would prefer to support a candidate who supports reducing taxpayer-funded weapons to Israel in the 2028 Republican presidential primary (51%), while just 27% prefer a candidate who would increase or maintain weapons to Israel. A majority of Republicans under 45 also oppose renewing the current 10-year, $38 billion dollar weapons agreement between the United States and Israel (53%), as well as the US entering a 20-year agreement that would cost US taxpayers at least $76 billion, which is reportedly being negotiated between Israel and the United States (51%). Just 1 in 4 Republicans under age 45 support those agreements.
The difference in perspectives between Republicans under 45 and Republicans older than 45 on Israel and the US-Israel relationship is in many cases dramatic. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s net favorability with Republicans over age 45 stands at +40, while dropping 38 points to +2 with Republicans under age 45.
Republicans across age groups agree that the United States should independently investigate credible accusations of the Israeli military killing Americans. The Trump administration has so far refused to investigate any of these killings. 59% of all Republicans say the US should independently investigate these cases, including 63% of Republicans under age 45 and 58% of Republicans over age 45.
62% of non-Fox News viewers agree the US should independently investigate these cases, as do 56% of Fox News viewers.
MORE KEY FINDINGS
Unconditional funding for Israel is an electoral weakness, both in Republican primaries and in general elections between Republicans and Democrats.
In a primary between two Republicans, 52% of Republican voters - and 59% of Republicans under 45 - would prefer a nominee who supports prioritizing lower prices for Americans over funding Israel. Just 23% of Republicans under 45 and 31% of Republicans overall prefer a nominee who supports unconditional funding for Israel.
In a general election where both the Republican and Democrat support unconditional funding for Israel, just 4% say they would support the Democrat. That rises to 17% - including 24% of Republicans under 45 - if the Democrat supports prioritizing lower prices for Americans over funding for Israel.
Fox News viewership is strongly correlated with a more favorable view of Israel’s military actions and Israeli government officials.
Netanyahu’s net approval among Republicans who regularly watch Fox News is +49, and drops to +11 with non-Fox News viewers - a 38-point shift
Netanyahu’s net approval drops to -8 among Republicans under 45 who do not regularly watch Fox News, and stands at +18 with Republicans under 45 who do regularly watch Fox News - a 26-point shift.
Republicans largely agree with the statement that “Legitimate criticism of Israel that should be protected under free speech is too often accused of being antisemitic.”
Overall, 48% of Republicans agreed with the statement, including 50% of Republicans under 45 and 47% of Republicans over age 45, while just 23% disagreed.
48% of non-Fox News viewers agreed as did 49% of regular Fox News viewers.
