For decades, AIPAC was considered one of the most powerful lobbying groups in America. But as of October 2025, that power seems to be fading.
Despite spending more than $100 million to influence elections, public frustration is boiling over.
Fresh polls and online debates reveal a growing shift among Americans—especially younger voters and Democrats—who now question the group’s role in shaping U.S. policy toward Israel.
Sympathy for Palestinians is now surpassing support for Israel, signaling a deep political transformation.
Key Takeaways
- New polls show 50% of U.S. voters now view Israel’s Gaza actions as genocide.
- 60% of Americans oppose more U.S. military aid to Israel.
- Support for Palestinians (37%) has overtaken support for Israel (36%) for the first time.
- AIPAC faces massive online backlash, with #KickOutAIPAC trending nationwide.
- Even major Democratic figures are beginning to distance themselves from the lobby.
Public Opinion Shows A Major Shift
Recent polling data paints a clear picture. A Quinnipiac survey from early October found that half of U.S. voters now describe Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide—up from 38% just months earlier. Even more striking, six in ten Americans now reject the idea of sending more U.S. military aid to Israel. Sympathy for Palestinians (37%) has edged out Israelis (36%), marking the first time this has happened in modern polling history.
The generational and political divides are clear:
| Group | % Supporting Israel | % Sympathizing with Palestinians | % Opposing U.S. Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Voters | 36% | 37% | 60% |
| Democrats | 21% | 52% | 78% |
| Under 30s | 15% | 65% | 82% |
| Republicans | 68% | 12% | 22% |
A NYT/Siena poll also found Democratic approval of Israel’s government at historic lows, with 49% expressing unfavorable views of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s leadership. Social media has played a major role, with graphic images from Gaza circulating widely. Many Americans now link continued aid to Israel with neglect of pressing local issues like poverty and homelessness.
AIPAC’s Money Network Faces Growing Resistance
AIPAC, which claims over 5 million members, has long influenced U.S.-Israel relations through campaign funding.
In 2024 alone, it raised $44.8 million through its PAC and directed $55.4 million into super PACs such as the United Democracy Project.
It supported 389 candidates, mostly Republicans but also many Democrats, while spending millions to defeat critics like Reps. Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman.
However, cracks are starting to show. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, once closely tied to AIPAC, recently met with J Street, a group promoting peace-based diplomacy.
Many new Democrats are skipping AIPAC-funded Israel trips, and some senators even voted to block certain arms sales to Israel.
Online, the backlash is severe. Since September, AIPAC has been mentioned more than 15,000 times on X (formerly Twitter), with nearly 70% of posts expressing negative sentiment.
Hashtags such as #KickOutAIPAC and #AIPACGenocideEnabler have surged, reaching over 70,000 combined mentions. Users accuse the group of “buying elections” and acting as a “foreign agent.”
Viral Moments Expose Weak Spots
A major viral moment came when California Governor Gavin Newsom stumbled through an interview on AIPAC, awkwardly repeating “it’s interesting” several times instead of answering directly.
The clip gained over 2 million views, with users calling him out for dodging questions. Representative Ro Khanna quickly responded, urging leaders to reject AIPAC funding and listen to younger voters demanding accountability.
Even AIPAC’s official posts struggle to gain traction. When it shared updates praising hostage deals, the comment section flooded with replies demanding it “get out of U.S. politics.”
Activists often point out that $38 billion in U.S. aid to Israel could instead address domestic crises like homelessness, which would require about $20 billion to solve.
Some analysts highlight AIPAC’s deep links with the Congressional Black Caucus, where many members have accepted donations but faced criticism for avoiding ceasefire calls.
Meanwhile, lawmakers like Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie are gaining popularity for refusing AIPAC money altogether.
What Lies Ahead
AIPAC is preparing another $100 million-plus campaign ahead of the 2026 elections. But the political mood is changing.
Voters now view heavy campaign donations as a sign of corruption rather than strength.
Competing congressional letters reflect this divide: only 30 lawmakers backed a recent AIPAC-supported effort, while 150 supported a resolution calling for Palestinian statehood.
Grassroots efforts like TrackAIPAC.com allow voters to see which politicians accept lobby money, encouraging public pledges under the banner #NoAIPAC.
With younger voters driving nearly 80% of anti-AIPAC posts, the message is clear—Americans want transparency and independence from foreign lobbying influence.
As one viral comment summed it up, “AIPAC’s grip is slipping.” Whether leaders adapt or cling to old alliances will determine how the 2026 elections reshape U.S. foreign policy.
