Trump Took U.S. Into Iran War Despite 45% GOP Disapproval, Book Says Israel Lobby Drove Shift
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Aug 2
Trump Took U.S. Into Iran War Despite 45% GOP Disapproval, Book Says Israel Lobby Drove Shift
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 2
Summary
Donald Trump’s decision to go to war on Iran earlier this year followed what the authors describe as a sustained Israeli campaign, overriding objections from several top advisers and despite 45% of Republicans holding unfavorable views of Israel.
The report argues that Trump’s move fits a long pattern in which U.S. presidents, fearing domestic political costs, abandoned policies they and senior officials saw as serving American interests.
1948 offers the template: Harry Truman recognized Israel within 2 days of telling George Marshall he agreed with warnings that early recognition was a vote-driven mistake likely to trigger wider regional damage.
Later presidents faced similar pressure, the authors say, citing Gerald Ford’s retreat after an Aipac-backed letter signed by 76 senators, Jimmy Carter’s rollback after Israeli threats to mobilize U.S. Jews, and Barack Obama’s reversal on settlements.
That history now collides with shifting U.S. politics: 60% of Americans hold an unfavorable view of Israel, and nearly one-third of 2020 Biden voters who skipped Kamala Harris in 2024 said ending Gaza violence was their top issue.
If public opinion on Israel is changing, could future U.S. leaders handle Gaza and settlements differently than past presidents?
The 2026 Iran War: Economic Shock, $4 Gas, and Trump’s Approval Collapse to 34%
Overview
The summer of 2026 saw the explosive release of 'Regime Change,' a bestseller that exposed secret White House meetings and triggered a massive leak hunt, fueling public anxiety and fierce backlash from Donald Trump. As Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu persuaded Trump to launch a joint bombing campaign against Iran, pro-Israel lobbyists and think tanks amplified support while Congress failed to block the war. The conflict disrupted global oil supplies, causing U.S. gas prices and inflation to soar, which hurt economic growth and slashed Trump’s approval ratings to historic lows. Even Trump’s own populist allies turned against him, deepening national divisions and threatening the GOP’s political future.