President Donald Trump’s recent actions in the Middle East might not sit well with his primary support base.
Currently, Trump is in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for a visit on Tuesday, with plans to head to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates later in the week. This trip marks one of his first significant international endeavours since his second term began. Interestingly, he has not scheduled visits to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. Recently, he hinted at discussions with Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding substantial talks and agreements involving Iran, the Houthis, and Hamas.
Netanyahu is increasingly being sidelined as the Trump administration engages in dialogue with Iran. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff led the fourth round of negotiations on Sunday, with Iran seemingly bypassing Israel in discussions about its nuclear program.
The administration further distanced itself from Israel on Sunday, focusing on its agreement with Hamas and securing the release of Edan Alexander, the last American hostage in Gaza. While Netanyahu pledged to exhibit “complete power” in the ongoing conflict with Hamas, Trump characterized Alexander’s release as a sincere gesture that could potentially help resolve the situation.
In a recent post on social media, the president framed it as a genuine step taken by the United States aimed at ending the brutal conflict and reuniting hostages with their families, acknowledging the efforts of Qatar and Egypt.
Lastly, on May 6, Trump announced a ceasefire between the U.S. and Houthi rebels in Yemen, which ended a bombing campaign that started in March. However, this agreement appears to have occurred without Israel’s input and did not prevent the Houthis from continuing their attacks on U.S. allies. Following the accord, Netanyahu asserted that “Israel will defend itself independently.”
While Trump’s approach has led to successes in the Middle East, his recent sidelining of Netanyahu could alienate a key segment of his base: white evangelical Protestants.
As of March 2025, this group remains the only demographic in the U.S. with a favorable view of Netanyahu. In fact, a recent Pew Research survey from early April showed that 52% of Americans lack confidence in Netanyahu’s ability to handle global affairs correctly. Interestingly, 58% of white evangelical Protestants still support Netanyahu’s leadership.
Trump currently enjoys robust backing from white evangelical Protestants, with a Pew investigation revealing that 72% approve of his presidency, compared to only 28% who disapprove.
Yet, as time goes on, his support among these demographics may wane, especially with his administration’s dealings involving other Middle Eastern nations potentially causing friction with Republicans in heavily Christian and evangelical districts.
Despite this, Trump’s strategy seems effective in the short run, and he might see long-term gains, even if there are short-term consequences among his supporters.
