Foreign Ministry-Funded MAGA Influencers’ Tour to Promote Pro-Israel Views
Israel’s Foreign Ministry is reportedly funding a tour for 16 young right-wing American social media influencers to strengthen support for the Israeli government among U.S. youth. The initiative, as reported by Israeli newspaper Haaretz, is part of a broader strategy to engage digital personalities who support former U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) and “America First” ideologies.
These influencers, all under 30 years of age, collectively have hundreds of millions of followers on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter). The tour dates have not yet been disclosed.
Countering Declining Youth Support for Israel
According to Haaretz, the campaign aims to reverse declining sentiment toward Israel among younger demographics in the United States. Amid growing international criticism of Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, the Israeli government is turning to alternative diplomatic tools—namely, digital influencers—to shape public opinion.
Yacov Livne, senior deputy director of the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s Department of Public Diplomacy, told the publication that it’s critical to ensure that MAGA-aligned movements in the U.S. adopt pro-Israel positions. “Their networks have huge followings, and their messages are more effective than if they came directly from the ministry,” the report quoted officials as saying.
Influencers to Promote Pro-Israel Narrative on Palestinians
Sources cited by Haaretz claim the influencers will be encouraged to share content that aligns with the Israeli government’s stance on the Palestinian issue. The strategy focuses on indirect messaging through popular figures rather than official state channels, which may be perceived as biased or less relatable by young audiences.
Tour to Be Organised by Christian Zionist Group Israel365
The organization tasked with conducting the tour is Israel365, a group that promotes Bible-based support for Israel, particularly among Christian communities. According to its website, Israel365 “stands unapologetically for the Jewish people’s God-given right to the entire Land of Israel.”
The Israeli government will reportedly pay $86,000 to Israel365 to facilitate the upcoming tour. The ministry further stated that it hopes to bring 550 such influencers to Israel by the end of 2025.
Context: War in Gaza and International Scrutiny
The initiative comes amid heightened scrutiny over Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Since October 2023, thousands of Palestinians have died in Israeli strikes launched in retaliation for a Hamas-led attack that killed over 1,200 people in Israel, most of them civilians.
Israel has faced global condemnation over the alleged blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza, which has led to widespread food shortages and medical crises.
