Twice as Many Young Voters Trust Donald Trump Over Gaza Than Joe Biden
Former U.S. President Donald Trump on May 7, 2024, in New York City; Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on October 15, 2023, in Khan Younis, Gaza; U.S. President Joe Biden on May 6, 2024, in Washington, D.C. Twice as many young voters say they trust Trump over Biden to handle the Gaza situation.
Twice as many young voters trust former President Donald Trump to deal with the conflict in Gaza than President Joe Biden, new polling shows.
Exclusive polling carried by Redfield and Wilton Strategies on behalf of Newsweek on a sample size of 1,500, revealed voters’ thoughts on the president’s handling of the conflict.
In the poll, which was carried out on May 1, respondents were asked: “Between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, who do you believe would be better at handling the current crisis in the Middle East?
In response, 47 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds chose Trump, while 23 percent chose Biden. Almost all age brackets chose Trump over Biden, except those between 35 and 44.
When asked whether they approved of how Biden has responded to the war in Gaza, 32 percent of young people said they approved or strongly approved, while 33 percent said they disapproved.
Respondents were also asked about their views about the U.S.’s levels of support for Israel.
When asked whether the U.S. had given the right amount of support to Israel, 23 percent of people aged 18-24 said it was too much, 31 percent said it was too little, and 25 percent said it was the right amount.
In October, following Hamas’ attack on Israel, the country launched a widespread aerial bombing campaign and ground offensive on Gaza. The Israeli military offensive has left more than 34,000 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Biden has found himself under pressure after widespread pro-Palestine protests erupted at college campuses across the U.S. in recent weeks. More than 2,000 protesters have been arrested nationwide.
The Israel-Gaza conflict has been dividing the Democratic Party and has put it in a precarious position with younger, more progressive voters—who have historically been a crucial demographic in their electoral base—ahead of the 2024 election.
The president has tried to strike a delicate balance by affirming the U.S.’s commitment to Israel’s security while also calling for restraint and more humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
Trump, who is the GOP’s presumptive presidential nominee, has been critical of Biden’s handling of the conflict but has not been clear about what he would do differently if re-elected in November.
He was a firm ally of Israel throughout his time in office and has expressed support for the country’s actions in Gaza.
However, the former president has also said that Israel is “losing the PR war” in Gaza because of distressing images coming out of the conflict zone and said they should “finish it fast.”
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