UNZ: 16-02-2026,
On February 11, 2026, the Jewish People Policy Institute released polling data that stunned political observers. According to the JPPI Israeli Society Index, 73% of Israelis rate Donald Trump as a “better than average” U.S. president for Israel’s interests. The breakdown was even more striking. Nearly half of all Israelis, 49%, called Trump “one of the best” U.S. presidents ever for Israel, with an additional 24% rating him “above average.”
Among Jewish Israelis specifically, the numbers climbed higher still. 54% percent described Trump as one of the best presidents for Israel, with an additional 25% saying above average, totaling 79% favorable.
Israeli journalist Barak Ravid amplified the findings on social media, highlighting the extraordinary contrast with Trump’s domestic standing. While nearly three quarters of Israelis celebrated Trump’s presidency, American voters remained deeply divided. Multiple U.S. polls conducted at virtually the same time showed Trump with approval ratings hovering between 37% and 44%, with majorities disapproving. Pew Research recorded 37%. Marist PBS found 39%. Morning Consult showed 44%.
The Libertarian Institute noted that “Trump’s approval rating is higher in Israel than in the US,” capturing a fundamental dynamic in U.S.-Israel relations. Trump’s most politically consequential foreign policy actions are popular in Israel but divisive or unpopular at home. The roughly 30-point gap between Israeli and American assessments reflects the fact that Trump has taken positions that directly serve Israeli security priorities while facing domestic backlash over economic concerns and broader issues of governance.