Federal records indicate that former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale may have made an error while disclosing his office’s work with foreign agents to the U.S. government. Specifically, he registered his company, Clocktower X, as working on behalf of the State of Israel. According to filings under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), he listed Israeli government-backed media companies as clients. This filing offers a rare look into Israel’s public relations efforts in the U.S., especially during a period of increasing unpopularity regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
A supplement to the FARA filing clarifies that this registration was made “in error.” It stated, “State of Israel: The registration of this person was in error. An amendment was submitted, but there was no receipt based on this registration.”
The Parscale Company has engaged in $6 million service agreements with companies like Havas Media Network, which specializes in media strategy and communications. Payments associated with this contract are set to continue until March 31, 2026, but subsequent records have not been disclosed, leaving unclear whether payments are still ongoing or if the contract remains active.
An amendment filed in October acknowledged that “the foreign national’s name was incorrect during the initial registration,” correcting it to “State of Israel via Havas Media Germany GmbH.” Another amendment specified that “There is only one agreement to provide services to the State of Israel through Havas Media Germany GmbH.”
A supplemental filing from May outlined Clocktower’s collaboration with Havas Media Network, which includes developing a website and social media products aimed at countering misinformation about Israel.
Neither Parscale, the Israeli Embassy, nor Havas Media Network responded to requests for comments from the Daily Caller News Foundation. The initial report of the application documents came from various sources.
Israel’s Media Outreach Efforts
Clocktower X has also been tasked with creating several websites to promote pro-Israel narratives. These include platforms like Pax Points and Pulse of Mercy, which aim to combat anti-Semitism.
The sites indicate that the materials are disseminated by Clocktower X on behalf of the State of Israel. The FARA database discloses that various articles produced for these platforms include claims about how Israel is treated in the media.
For instance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that Israel’s actions might provoke attacks on U.S. forces, highlighting the complex dynamics at play. Moreover, the articles produced by Clocktower X not only critique conservative commentators but also aim to sway public perception concerning Israeli actions in Palestine.
In one instance, an article published by Paxpoint denied reports of famine in Gaza, despite corroboration from the World Health Organization stating that over 500,000 Gazans were starving. The article claimed that data showed Israel was being unfairly painted as responsible for a famine that never occurred.
Concern arose as the same platform connected humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza to terrorist organizations, suggesting that those seeking to provide help had to interact with Hamas’s governance structures.
Technological Engagement Strategies
Additionally, over $6 million was allocated to a platform called SparkFire Technologies, which aims for “direct engagement” with the public, leveraging AI for a broader campaign combating anti-Semitism. There are indications that some of this funding sought to empower a chatbot-driven outreach strategy to engage Americans directly.
Reports suggest that text messages promoting pro-Israel sentiments were distributed through what appeared to be a non-existent organization, Friends for Peace. The messages solicited opinions on the U.S.-Israel relationship while urging support for Israel.
While claims were made distancing SparkFire Technologies from Clocktower X, one text message contained a link to a pro-Israel media website created by Clocktower, indicating a potential overlap in motives.
In summary, the extensive PR efforts by organizations associated with Israel, alongside technological strategies and miscommunication regarding foreign contracts, paint a complex picture of the current media landscape.
