US President Donald Trump has claimed that while Israel may be militarily successful in Gaza, it is losing the battle of global perception and influence in Congress.
In a recent interview, Trump expressed surprise at what he described as the weakening of Israel’s once-powerful political influence in Washington. “If you go back 15 to 20 years, Israel had the strongest lobby in Congress of anything I’ve ever seen. You couldn’t even criticize Israel if you wanted to be a politician. Now, that influence is no longer the same,” he said.
The former New York mayor noted that Israel’s image has been damaged by the ongoing war in Gaza. “They may be winning the war, but they’re not winning the world of public relations, and it is hurting them,” Trump stated, adding that global perception is shifting in a way that affects Israel’s standing on Capitol Hill.
He recalled the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel as a “horrible day,” but urged that the war should be concluded quickly to prevent further damage to Israel’s reputation. Trump also stressed that he still has “good support” from Israel and called the country “amazing,” while highlighting his past actions in support of Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, international criticism continues to mount. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy voiced outrage over Israel restricting humanitarian aid to Gaza and announced an additional £15 million ($20 million) in UK medical assistance for civilians in the region.
