Former Congressman Matt Gaetz sparked controversy at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) by opening his speech with a reference to a Republican faction “loyal to only one nation,” a veiled critique of perceived Israeli influence on US politicians, though he did not mention Israel by name.
Coming a month into the US-Israeli war with Iran, Gaetz’s remarks highlighted growing tensions within the Republican Party. Younger conservatives are increasingly questioning unconditional support for Israel, reflecting broader skepticism toward military intervention.
Figures such as Tucker Carlson have fueled these debates, alleging disproportionate Israeli influence on US policy—a claim Carlson denies is antisemitic.
Jack Posobiec, a conservative commentator, said age 45 appears to be a dividing line, with younger Republicans more likely to challenge the party’s pro-Israel stance. “It’s not antisemitism,” Posobiec said. “It’s a question of: Why? What is the purpose of this relationship? I hear this often from young voters.”
This generational split mirrors shifts within the Democratic Party, where some lawmakers and primary candidates have distanced themselves from the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC amid growing unease over military actions.
Young CPAC attendees, such as 17-year-old Noah Bundy and 18-year-old Ryder Gerrald from Georgia, expressed opposition to the US war with Iran. “I think they totally pushed us into a war with Iran,” Bundy said. Gerrald added that younger voters are less supportive of Israel than older generations and would prefer US taxpayer funds to be redirected toward domestic priorities.
Despite the growing dissent among younger conservatives, the party’s pro-Israel position remains popular with evangelicals and older voters. Harry Strine III, 83, said, “Israel is God’s people. The US was founded on the Judeo-Christian belief. I guess I’m a traditionalist.”
On CPAC’s opening day, Rev. Franklin Graham likened President Donald Trump’s actions to protect Israel through strikes on Iran to the biblical story of Esther, the Jewish queen who saved her people from annihilation in ancient Persia.
The debate over Israel is revealing fault lines within the Republican Party, particularly among younger voters who were instrumental in Trump’s 2024 election victory, potentially complicating GOP efforts to defend narrow majorities in Congress ahead of the November midterms.
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