It is often said that US politics is based not on principles but on individual interests and the acquisition of money, power, and influence. That may explain why in the lead-up to this year’s elections the pro-Israel lobbying group American Israel Public Affairs Committee has backed a series of vicious attacks on Donald Trump, a leader who has described himself as “history’s most pro-Israel US president.”
Working through associated political action committees, AIPAC has funded several candidates who are lambasting Trump every day.
AIPAC is involved in four of the congressional races, heavily donating to the campaigns of Illinois Sen. Laura Fine in the 9th District; former Congresswoman Melissa Bean in the 8th District; Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin in the 7th District, and Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller in the 2nd District.
All four candidates are using AIPAC-tied money to fund powerful ad campaigns that harshly attack Trump. In many cases, AIPAC makes the donations directly, or through associated Super PACs.
The AIPAC-tied “Elect Chicago Women” PAC has donated $2 million (SR7.5 billion) to Fine’s campaign. Her campaign ads accuse Trump of threatening to withhold essential funding for public health, energy, and healthcare services for Illinois residents. Fine’s messaging frames these actions as direct attacks on the community’s well-being.
Conyears-Ervin has reportedly received $2.8 million through United Democracy Project, which is AIPAC’s designated super PAC. Her ads declare that she “is not afraid to stand up to Trump.”
The ads criticize the US leader for failing to support healthcare and strengthen the economy — two issues Trump emphasized were his achievements during his State of the Union speech on Tuesday.
Dozens of similar candidates, both Democrat and Republican, are receiving money either directly from AIPAC or through AIPAC-associated Super PACs.
Illinois Democrat Sean Casten, who has repeatedly accused Trump of violating the Constitution, undermining democratic institutions, and inciting the Capitol Hill insurrection, and who boycotted Trump’s inauguration and the State of the Union speech, has received almost $300,000 in AIPAC funds.
The pro-Israel group is willing to ignore Casten’s harsh attacks on Trump probably because the candidate is being challenged by pro-Palestinian Democrat Joseph “Joey” Ruzevich in a district that has one of the largest concentrations of Arab, Palestinian, and Muslim voters.
Another is Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, who is hoping to succeed Dick Durbin in the US Senate for Illinois. He has been one of Trump’s harshest critics, accusing the US leader of using systemic, violent, and illegal tactics in immigration enforcement, threatening to defund cities, abusing emergency powers for tariffs, and undermining democratic institutions.
Krishnamoorthi has described Trump’s policies as a “betrayal of American values,” and has taken legislative action to block federal deployment of troops to cities and prevent the nationalization of elections.
In his commercials, the candidate says he is “in the fight of his life” against Trump’s policies.
What’s behind the political betrayal?
One might argue that the lobby group is merely trying to defeat progressive candidates who would be more critical of Israeli government policies.
Others might argue, however, that Israel is a country that will betray any trust for its own interests, even funding attacks against politicians such as Trump whose policies have protected Israel from accountability in Gaza’s genocide.
Another theory is that Israel and AIPAC recognize that Trump is in trouble in these midterm elections and risks losing control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate to Democratic majorities who will block his programs and policies.
With Trump facing an uphill battle to retain Republican control of the House and the Senate, you would think that pro-Israel donors would want to help him.
But this is called the “midterm election,” which takes place two years after a president is elected. Traditionally, the political party that controls the White House during a midterm election loses voter support because of the public’s dissatisfaction with the chief executive’s policies and political hyperbole.
Historically, data shows that the incumbent president’s party has lost seats in the House in 20 of the 22 midterm elections held since 1938 — a 90 percent loss rate over the past 80 years. Only twice, in 1998 and 2002, did incumbent presidents gain seats in the House. The average loss in the House is 28 seats, while the Senate loses seats about 70 percent of the time.
Behind Trump’s back, wealthy pro-Israel funders are hedging their bets against him, funding candidates who are driving attacks on the president’s public record and undermining his public image.
Pro-Israel PACs, which are all American, clearly support the policies and interests of Israel’s current government above Trump’s interests and policies.
These ad campaigns have a powerful impact on how American voters view issues. But defenders of Israel’s government have often overlooked its crimes and masterfully exaggerate the actions of Israel’s critics.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that he supports peace, but has taken violent action in Gaza that undermines peace, as well as Arab and Muslim interests.
If Trump loses control of the House and the Senate in the November general elections, he will have one group to blame. He should definitely not trust the pro-Israel movement, and should see them for what they really are.
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