Trump Claims 99% Approval in Israel

Trump said he would move to Israel and become prime minister if Americans tired of him, citing polling that contradicts his claim.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in International Relations

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Trump made the remarks on a call into Fox News, claiming a 99% approval rating in Israel and saying he would become prime minister there if Americans grew tired of him. A Reuters/Ipsos poll completed Monday put his U.S. approval at 32%.

Why it matters

The remarks draw attention to how Trump's domestic standing compares with his reception abroad, particularly in Israel, a close U.S. ally. Polling on Israeli views of him offers a measure against which his claims can be checked.

A Jewish People Policy Institute poll found 10% of Israelis have a great deal of confidence in Trump on U.S.-Israeli relations, while a separate poll published last month found 69% agreed he was the friendliest U.S. president Israel has had. The Reuters/Ipsos poll completed Monday put his U.S. approval at 32%, and no poll cited supports the 99% Israeli approval he claimed.

The players

Donald Trump

Donald Trump is the current President of the United States, a former real estate developer and television personality who has frequently addressed his popularity at home and abroad.

Jewish People Policy Institute

The Jewish People Policy Institute is an Israeli think tank that conducts public opinion research on Israeli and Jewish attitudes, including polling on views of U.S. leaders.

Reuters/Ipsos

Reuters/Ipsos is a polling partnership between the news agency Reuters and the research firm Ipsos that regularly measures American public opinion on political figures.

The details

Speaking on a call into Fox News, Trump said he would move to Israel and become its prime minister if Americans grew tired of him. He also asserted a 99% approval rating in Israel, a figure the polling cited in the source does not support.

Last month: a Jewish People Policy Institute poll on Israeli views of Trump was published.
Monday: a Reuters/Ipsos poll was completed, putting Trump's U.S. approval at 32%.
Tuesday: Trump made the escape-plan and 99% approval remarks on Fox News.

Political Context

The Jewish People Policy Institute's polling shows Israeli approval of Trump is mixed, with 69% calling him the friendliest U.S. president Israel has had but only 10% expressing great confidence on U.S.-Israeli relations. Trump's 99% figure sits far above both measures and the Reuters/Ipsos reading of 32% among Americans.

Readers following U.S.-Israel relations can use the polling figures here to separate claimed popularity from measured opinion. The contrast between 10% great confidence and 69% friendliest-president sentiment in Israel shows that support can be broad yet shallow.

The takeaway

Claimed approval ratings are worth checking against published polls, since the Israeli figures cited here point to a more mixed picture than the 99% figure suggests. Comparing a leader's stated numbers with independent surveys is a practical way to judge political claims.