Most agree on US supporting Israel, balk at Biden’s performance: Polls

Oct 16, 2023

Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Ian Kennedy (Editor), Brock Koller (Senior Producer)

According to an ABC News poll of 518 adult respondents, most agree that the U.S. should continue to support Israel after the deadly attack by the terrorist organization Hamas. However, the poll found only about half of Americans feel the government is doing enough as it is, with just more than a quarter of respondents indicating the U.S. needs to do more for Israel and 18% saying the U.S. is doing too much.

When it comes to Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war, more than half of respondents agreed that the president is not handling the situation correctly, while 41% said they approved of the way Biden is going about the situation.

According to the poll, a thin majority of Americans believe the U.S. is not responsible for ensuring peace in the Middle East. An issue that many Republicans and Democrats agree on. Results show 48% of Republicans and 59% of Democrats do believe the U.S. does hold responsibility to ensure peace in the Middle East.

A second poll by CNN with 1,003 respondents also concluded that about half of Americans support Israel but can’t agree on how much support. Thirty-five percent of respondents said the U.S. is doing enough, 14% said the U.S. needs to do more, and 15% said that the U.S. is doing too much.

That same poll found that Biden’s approval rating is below 50%, with just 47% of U.S. adults trusting that Biden will make the right decisions when it comes to the Israel-Hamas war.

Tags: Hamas, Israel, Joe Biden, Poll

ON THE SAME DAY PRESIDENT BIDEN’S 60 MINUTES INTERVIEW AIRED, THE RESULTS OF TWO NEW POLLS WERE RELEASED —

SHOWING AMERICANS’ VIEWS ON THE WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS —

AND THE PRESIDENT’S PERFORMANCE.

THE FIRST POLL — A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY ABC NEWS OF 518 U-S ADULTS — SHOWS A PLURALITY OF AMERICANS — 49% — AGREE WITH WHAT AMERICA IS DOING TO SUPPORT ISRAEL IN THE WAR.

29% SAY THE US IS DOING TOO LITTLE AND 18% SAY THE US IS DOING TOO MUCH.

IN THE SECOND POLL OF ONE THOUSAND ADULTS – CONDUCTED BY CNN – 35% SAY THE US IS PROVIDING THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE TO ISRAEL – 15% SAYING TOO MUCH AND 14% SAYING TOO LITTLE.

WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE PRESIDENT’S PERFORMANCE —

54% OF THOSE SURVEYED IN THE ABC NEWS POLL **DISAPPROVE OF BIDEN’S HANDLING OF THE SITUATION – COMPARED TO 41% IN APPROVAL.

ACCORDING TO CNN’S POLL — 47% OF US ADULTS HAVE AT LEAST A MODERATE AMOUNT OF TRUST IN THE PRESIDENT TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS.