President Biden's Handling of Israel-Hamas War Sparks Disapproval
The majority of Americans disapprove of President Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war, as they believe his administration's actions are not bringing the conflict closer to a peaceful resolution. Additionally, a growing number of Democrats feel that he is showing excessive support for Israel.
Regarding Mr. Biden's response to pro-Palestinian protests in the U.S., most Americans prefer no comment. However, there is a relatively higher number of individuals who would like him to condemn these protests rather than support them. Republicans, in particular, are the most vocal in seeking condemnation.
It is important to note that despite these concerns, President Biden's overall approval rating remains steady at 41%. This is partly because the war is not considered one of the top problems facing the United States.
The president's approach towards Israel is causing increasing divisions within his own Democratic party. Currently, more than a third of Democrats believe that he is displaying excessive support for Israel, which marks an increase since October.
According to recent surveys, there is a preference among many Americans for President Biden to remain neutral or condemn pro-Palestinian protests happening in the country, rather than showing support for them. While Republicans lean towards wanting him to condemn the protests, a quarter of Democrats would actually seek his support.
Interestingly, it is the older generations, specifically Gen X and Baby Boomers aged 45 and above, who tend to desire more condemnation. This sentiment is not strongly associated with college-age individuals.
Overall, Mr. Biden's approval rating for his handling of the conflict has slightly declined among all partisan groups and age demographics since October.
However, it is worth noting that when Americans are asked to prioritize the country's top issues, the Israel-Hamas war does not rank high. It falls far below concerns such as inflation, the state of democracy, border issues, and gun violence.
This survey conducted by CBS News/YouGov involved 2,144 U.S. adult residents who were interviewed between December 6-8, 2023. The sample was weighted based on gender, age, race, education, and past voting patterns, using data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey and Current Population Survey. The margin of error is ±2.8 points.
