“Lower Than Any Other President” – Biden’s Approval Ratings Hit Rock Bottom Amidst Support for Israel

Jo ShawNov 8, 2023

Minute Read

Numerous recent polls indicate that President Biden’s approval rating has reached an all-time low. One poll suggests that the leading cause is US immigration issues, with former President Trump supporters advocating for his “Build a Wall” campaign at rallies. On the other hand, another poll attributes this decline to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, expressing growing concerns about the well-being of Palestinians caught in the middle of the war. So, is Biden “playing with fire” by showing “rock solid” support of Israel?

Biden’s Approval From His Own Party Dropped Significantly

According to a recent Gallup poll, President Joe Biden’s job approval rating among Democrats has dropped to 75%, marking an 11% decline from the previous month. This Gallup survey reveals the lowest level of support from his own party during his Presidency.

Polls Now Match His All-Time Personal Low

The decline in support from his party has resulted in his overall approval rating plummeting to 37%, which now matches his all-time low during his presidential term.

Independents’ Approval for Biden Also Drops

Simultaneously, President Biden’s approval among independents has declined to 35%, reflecting a 4% decrease. The approval rating among Republicans remains stagnant at a meager 5%.

CNN’s the Poll of Polls Also Below 40%

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CNN’s Poll of Polls cites his approval rating at 39%, slightly higher than the recent Gallop poll but still below the 40% mark.

Recent Gallup Poll Shows Growing Concern for Palestinians

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Gallup reports that the primary factor contributing to the decline in the President’s popularity ratings is the attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7. The attack resulted in at least 1,400 deaths and hundreds of kidnappings on the Israeli side, with a tragically increasing death toll on the Palestinian side.

Israel/Hamas Conflict Creates Major Humanitarian Crisis

The counterattack unleashed by Israel on Hamas has resulted in a death toll in Gaza that is widely reported to exceed 10,000 deaths, creating a major humanitarian crisis in the region.

Biden Pledges “Rock Solid” Support for Israel

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Right after the attack, President Biden committed to providing “unwavering” support to Israel, further reinforcing this message during his visit to the country on October 18. “I come to Israel with a single message: You are not alone. You are not alone. As long as the United States stands — and we will stand forever — we will not let you ever be alone,” Biden declared at the outset of his speech.

Biden Not Doing Enough for Palestinians

However, Biden has received criticism from certain members of his party for aligning closely with Israel. Prominent Democratic lawmakers and protesters have encouraged Biden to increase efforts in aiding the millions of Palestinians caught up in the conflict.

Democrats Have More Sympathy for Palestinian People

Earlier this year, Gallup discovered that, for the first time in the United States, Democrats’ sympathies for the Palestinians exceeded their sympathies for the Israelis.

Hamas and Putin Want to “Annihilate Democracy.”

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Biden compared Hamas and Putin in his recent speech on October 18, while visiting Israel, “Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy — completely annihilate it.”

Biden Compares Hamas Attack to 9/11

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He went on to draw a comparison between the assaults on Israel and the 9/11 attacks on the United States. “When I was in Israel yesterday, I said that when America experienced the hell of 9/11, we felt enraged as well. While we sought and got justice, we made mistakes. So, I cautioned the government of Israel not to be blinded by rage,” Biden said.

Voters May Abstain From Voting

In reaction to Biden’s “rock-solid” backing of Israel, some voters have expressed their intention to abstain from voting in the 2024 election unless President Biden calls for a ceasefire. Meanwhile, others have accused Israel of perpetrating a genocide against the Palestinian population.

Biden Administration Refuses to Support “Humanitarian Truce”

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Organizations such as the United Nations (UN) and Amnesty International have consistently called for a ceasefire, but their appeals have not yielded results. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has reaffirmed its support for Israel. Additionally, on October 26, reports indicated President Biden declined to endorse a “humanitarian truce” at the UN.

Biden’s Support Will Have Electoral Consequences

Voters argue that this decision will carry electoral consequences for the Biden administration, a sentiment supported by recent polling data.

Majority of Americans Support a Ceasefire

A recent survey conducted by Data for Progress revealed that a majority of Democrats (80%), along with over half of Independents (57%) and Republicans (56%,) think that Biden should request a ceasefire. Voters either strongly agreed or somewhat agreed with the statement provided in the survey. “The U.S. should call for a ceasefire and a de-escalation of violence in Gaza. The U.S. should leverage its close diplomatic relationship with Israel to prevent further violence and civilian deaths.”

People March Against Biden’s Support of Israel

In early November, tens of thousands of individuals took part in the National March on Washington D.C. and many other cities in support of Palestine and disapproval of Biden’s endorsement of the Israeli offensive in Gaza.

An Unpopular War for Biden

Democrats are now fearful that Biden’s Israel-Hamas war stance could cost him reelection. Abraham Aiyash, a Michigan state representative, has recently told reporters, “Certainly none of us want to see part two of a Trump disaster presidency. But we also are not going to just passively give Joe Biden a second term if our concerns are not even dignified through a response.”

Exercising the Only Power They Have

Some say the low favorability in polling is the younger generation exercising power. One user posted, “Youth and Muslim voters are exercising the only power they have. He has the same foreign policy position as Trump and should not get a pass for that. He needs to chill out on being hawk unless he wants to lose.”

“We Are Playing With Fire”

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Another user posted, “For reference, his approval rating is lower than any other president except for Jimmy Carter at this point in his presidency. If you know what happened to President Carter vs Reagan then you should be very afraid of what may happen next year. He shouldn’t run and there should be a full democratic primary. We are playing with fire by hoping Trump’s unpopularity will be enough to overcome Biden’s unpopularity.”