Crackdowns on pro-Palestine protests a losing issue for Trump: Poll

Stalwart support for Israel amid its ongoing conflict with Hamas and several of its neighbors could prove a losing issue for President Donald Trump, especially as the administration ratchets up its crackdown on antisemitism, according to a recent poll.

Just 41% of registered voters said the U.S. should support Israel in the ongoing war, compared to 14% who preferred the myriad Palestinian organizations, and 27% who chose neither. A further 18% were unsure. The latest Napolitan News Survey also revealed a dramatic generational gap on the issue, with 58% of those over the age of 65 supporting Israel, compared to only 28% of 18-34-year-olds.

The public was mixed on pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses, with 39% at least somewhat approving of them, 45% disapproving, and 17% unsure. Perception of the protests was marginally more favorable, with 44% saying they were mostly peaceful, 34% saying they were "marred by violence", and 22% unsure.

When asked explicitly if they supported the rights of the protesters to publicly back the Palestinians, including Hamas, 78% of voters said they did, while just 14% said they did not and 8% were unsure. Support for deporting foreign students who participate in pro-Palestinian or Hamas protests was low. Thirty-two percent backed such a move while 51% opposed it at 16% were unsure.

The survey comes as the administration faces backlash from the left and right over its arrest and deportation of pro-Palestine figures such as Mahmoud Khalil. Responding to reports of the Administration seeking a Columbia student from Korea (presumably for possible deportation), for instance, right-wing Info Wars commentator Harrison Smith stated "[t]his is insane. Another unforced error and outrageous overreach by the Trump admin."

"Everything that is interfering with Trump's agenda (deporting legal migrants, war in Yemen, anti-free-speech actions) are because they are doing stupid [censored] for Israel," he added.

On the other hand, 58% supported withdrawing federal funding to universities that did not protect Jewish students from antisemitism, while 19% opposed that move, and 23% were unsure.

Conducted March 18-19, the survey questioned 1,000 registered voters.