Ten days after the first American-Israeli strikes in Iran, the close relationship between the United States and Israel is beginning to show signs of strain.
As gas prices soar and American public opinion is hesitant about war, Donald Trump stated for the first time on CBS this Monday that the war was “almost” over, arguing that Iran no longer had a “navy” or “communications,” or “air force.” Not necessarily to Israel’s liking.
Hand in hand until now, with a clear division of tasks, the Trump administration was also taken aback by their longtime ally’s Israeli strikes targeting fuel depots in Tehran over the weekend. The attack enveloped the capital in a thick cloud of toxic smoke from the fires. According to Axios, American officials were surprised by the scale of this attack and expressed their astonishment to their Israeli counterparts.
Influential Republican senator Lindsey Graham, close to Donald Trump and a staunch opponent of Iran, called on the Israelis to “be careful” in choosing targets. “Our goal is to free the Iranian people without compromising their chances of starting a better life when this regime collapses. Iran’s oil economy will be essential to this effort,” he wrote on X.
This divergence on the conduct of the war comes as the American president and his administration struggle to convince of the justification of the war and its objectives.
Democratic opposition to President Trump has denounced the outbreak of a conflict without congressional authorization or a clearly defined exit strategy, fearing that Israel may have “put American forces in danger by insisting on attacking Iran,” according to the words of Congressman Joaquin Castro. Seven American soldiers were killed in Iranian retaliation following the start of the war on February 28.
“As usual, I think the United States and Israel have largely overlapping goals, but not perfectly,” emphasizes Michael Singh of the Washington Institute.
“The real difference lies not in the objectives, but in the duration,” he adds, noting that the United States probably has less interest in a prolonged conflict due to the economic repercussions already being felt. “Israelis must be aware of this because President Trump’s ability to lead an extended war depends in part on national political support,” the expert believes.
“When Donald Trump says stop, it will stop. Regardless of whether the Israelis believe their mission is accomplished or not,” says Aaron David Miller of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
A Quinnipiac poll released this Monday revealed that a majority of Americans (53%) oppose military intervention in Iran and 44% believe that the United States supports Israel too much.
Supporters of the MAGA movement (“Make America Great Again”) of Donald Trump have criticized American engagement in an “endless” war eight months before crucial midterm legislative elections.
Rising star in the Democratic Party and a potential presidential candidate in 2028, California Governor Gavin Newsom openly questioned support for Israel in an interview last week, signaling a shift within his party regarding the Jewish state. He denounced the “influence” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Donald Trump and noted that “some talk about it (Israel) appropriately as a kind of apartheid state.” The Israeli leader had long advocated for these strikes, citing the “existential threat” posed by Iran.
During the war in Gaza, where a fragile ceasefire remains in place, the Biden administration was torn between its unconditional support for Israel after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and the campaign of massive bombardments on Palestinian civilians that followed.
Not directly related to Iran but also indicative of waning support for Israel in the United States, a recent Gallup poll confirms that, for the first time in decades, Americans sympathize more with Palestinians than with Israelis in their conflict.
