“Failed Promises, Student Loans, Foreign Policy in General.”: Poll Indicates Joe Biden Losing Ground to Donald Trump Among Young Voters

William FurneyNov 25, 2023

Minute Read

The vast majority of young American voters, a key demographic heading into the 2024 election year, do not support President Joe Biden over his support of Israel, a new poll shows.

Middle East Conflict

A total of 70 percent of people aged 18 to 34 who took part in a poll for NBC News said they did not approve of the Biden administration’s support for Israel as it wages war on Hamas militants in Gaza.

Israel ‘Went Too Far’

Image Credit: Anas-Mohammed / Shutterstock.

Probed as to why, they said the Israeli military forces had “gone too far” in battling the terrorist group. About 12,000 Palestinian people have been killed since the conflict erupted on October 7, when Hamas launched a surprise rocket attack on Israel. An estimated 1 million Palestinians have fled their homes amid a humanitarian disaster in Gaza.

Israel, Loans and Foreign Policy

Editorial credit: Consolidated News Photos / Shutterstock.

Speaking to NBC News about the new poll’s findings, one person bluntly said of President Biden: “I do not support his support of Israel.” Another person said: “Failed promises, student loans, foreign policy in general.”

Biden Backing

Image Credit Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.

President Biden has been vocal in his support of Israel, and visited the country in the wake of the Hamas attack, to assure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of ongoing US support.

Further Israeli Support

In a subsequent phone call with the Israeli leader, Biden reaffirmed his support for the country.

Need to ‘Protect Palestinians’

A transcript of the call between Biden and Netanyahu, as provided by the White House, said: “The president reiterated his steadfast support for Israel and the protection of Israeli citizens from Hamas and all other threats while also emphasizing the imperative to protect Palestinian civilians and reduce civilian harm in the course of military operations.”

Letter of Protest

There is growing discontent with Biden’s unwavering support for Israel, with over 500 American officials from around 40 government agencies signing a letter of protest against his policy.

US Agency Officials’ War Requests

Editorial credit: Matthew Nichols1 / Shutterstock.

The letter, which was obtained by The New York Times, says: “We call on President Biden to urgently demand a ceasefire; and to call for de-escalation of the current conflict by securing the immediate release of the Israeli hostages and arbitrarily detained Palestinians; the restoration of water, fuel, electricity and other basic services; and the passage of adequate humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.”

Polling Low for Biden

Image Credit: Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock.

The New NBC News poll also found that President Biden’s approval rating has fallen to a record low since he took office nearly three years ago. It is currently at 40 percent approval among voters, presenting a problem for the incumbent as he vies for the Democratic nomination in primaries early next year, with Vice President Kamala Harris as his running mate.

Bad Foreign Policy Polling

Editorial credit: Evan El-Amin/Shutterstock.

The polling number was even worse when people were quizzed on Biden’s foreign policy. The overwhelming majority of voters — 62 percent — do not approve of what the Biden administration is doing overseas. It includes almost one-third of Democratic voters, and just 34 percent of all voters approve of how the president is dealing with the Israel-Hamas war.

Trump Ahead in Matchup

With just under a year to go until voting day, next November 5, former president Donald Trump is ahead of Biden in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup, the NBC News poll found. It puts Trump at 46 percent while Biden has 44 support from registered voters.

Trump Battleground Gains

Editorial credit: Potashev Aleksandr / Shutterstock.

A recent New York Times/Siena College poll showed that Trump had the edge over Biden in five of six key battleground states that are crucial for deciding presidential elections. That’s despite 91 federal criminal charges Trump is fighting after being indicted four times.

Trump’s Legal Headaches

Among the legal battles Trump is fighting and that could harm his chances of becoming president again are charges that he attempted to overturn the result of the 2020 election, that he allegedly held onto classified government papers and refused to hand them back and that he allegedly paid “hush money” to cover up an alleged affair. Trump has denied the charges and says they were brought by Democrats who want to block his presidential ambitions.

The Age Problem

Both Biden and Trump are facing calls to end their campaigns over their age. Biden is 81 and is already the oldest person to be elected US president, while Trump is 77. They have made public stumbles, falls and gaffes in recent months, further raising concerns about their advanced ages and apparent infirmity.