In the wake of Israel’s ongoing war against Iranian-backed terror groups, questions continue to arise regarding the United States’ support, particularly during the presidency of Donald Trump. This report provides an in-depth examination of the Trump administration’s approach to Israel, how these policies shaped the current security and diplomatic environment, and the enduring significance for Israel’s struggle against hostile forces in the region.
American Policy Shift: From Diplomacy to Deterrence
During Donald Trump’s tenure as president from 2017 to 2021, the United States fundamentally shifted its approach to Israel and the broader Middle East. Unlike previous administrations that sought to balance relations or act as neutral mediators, the Trump administration identified Iran and its proxy networks—including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and affiliated militias in Iraq and Syria—as the chief threat to the stability of the region and Israel’s existence.
Prominent policy decisions during this period included the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the relocation of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2018. The Trump administration also recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), and suspended U.S. funding to the Palestinian Authority and to UNRWA, citing concerns about incitement and funding of terror activities. These measures, widely regarded as bold and controversial, realigned U.S. policy to closely match long-standing Israeli security concerns.
Security and Defense: Military Assistance and Strategic Cooperation
Israeli security was significantly bolstered during this time through enhanced military cooperation. The United States continued its commitment to Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge (QME), delivering advanced defense technology, including F-35 fighter jets and supporting the joint development of missile defense systems such as Iron Dome and Arrow-3. U.S. backing was essential in enabling Israel to counter an increasingly sophisticated arsenal mobilized by Iranian proxies.
The Trump administration’s 2018 withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal resumed crippling sanctions on the Iranian regime. Israeli officials had long viewed the JCPOA as granting Iran legitimacy and a pathway toward nuclear arms. By re-imposing sanctions and pursuing a policy of ‘maximum pressure,’ the U.S. aimed to weaken Iran’s capability to fund and empower its terror networks.
Diplomatic Breakthrough: The Abraham Accords
Perhaps the most visible legacy was the Abraham Accords, signed in 2020, normalizing relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. These agreements shattered the Arab League’s long-standing boycott, opened new avenues for trade, security coordination, and diplomatic cooperation, and established a framework for coalition-building against Iran’s regional ambitions.
For Israel, normalization with influential neighbors represented validation of its quest for security and prosperity without territorial or political concessions to terror groups. It also created new regional alliances that reduced Israel’s diplomatic isolation, directly challenging Iran’s hegemonic designs.
The October 7th Massacre and Present-Day Threats
The ramifications of U.S.-Israel relations during Trump’s presidency gained urgency amid the unprecedented terror attack carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Over 1,200 Israeli civilians were murdered, hundreds more were abused, mutilated, or abducted, making it the deadliest antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust. The attack triggered Operation Iron Swords, Israel’s broad campaign against Hamas and other Iranian-backed groups operating out of Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.
The continuing conflict underscores the stakes of U.S. policy: international backing for Israel’s right to self-defense remains an existential necessity. The Trump administration’s uncompromising stance on Iranian-sponsored terror, the withdrawal from deals seen as enabling those forces, and the diplomatic opening to Arab partners laid groundwork for international support.
Iran’s Proxy War: The Axis of Resistance
Since 1979, Iran has orchestrated and funded an array of proxy groups to challenge Israel’s existence and undercut Western influence. Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza, the Houthi movement in Yemen, and Iranian-led militias in Syria and Iraq form a vast network bent on destabilizing Israel and regional partners. The Trump administration explicitly targeted the ‘axis of resistance,’ employing sanctions, direct action, and strategic realignment to erode their operational capacity.
The assassination of Qassem Soleimani, leader of Iran’s IRGC-Quds Force, in January 2020 was a signal event, disrupting the command structure of Iran’s foreign terror apparatus and reinforcing U.S. resolve alongside Israel’s security priorities.
Evolving U.S.-Israel Relations: Post-Trump Developments
Since 2021, policy under the Biden administration has shifted. The U.S. resumed negotiations with Iran and restored some assistance to the Palestinian Authority and UNRWA. Analysts and Israeli officials argue that such moves emboldened Iranian groups by easing economic pressure and resuming Western engagement, even as military aid and technology transfers to Israel have continued. The renewed focus on civilian aid during the Gaza conflict has generated international debate over the balance between humanitarian concerns and the imperative to defeat terror groups.
Media Climate and Public Debate
Coverage of these complex dynamics has sometimes obscured the distinctions between Israel’s defensive actions and the terror activities of Iranian proxies. The necessity of Israel’s war for survival, the legitimacy of its response to mass atrocities like those of October 7th, and the non-equivalence between legitimate military targets and civilian casualties are essential for understanding the current conflict. The Trump administration’s efforts to clarify these moral and strategic distinctions continue to influence public discourse and policymaking today.
Conclusion
The era of U.S.-Israel relations under Donald Trump marked a period of decisive strategic transformation with repercussions still unfolding amid Israel’s war for survival. The administration’s recognition of Jerusalem, enhanced military support, punitive measures against Iran and its proxies, and the breakthrough Abraham Accords indelibly altered the regional landscape. As Israel confronts unprecedented security challenges, the legacy of American policy choices—centered on clear support for Israel and determined opposition to Iranian-backed terror—will remain central in shaping outcomes on the ground and in the diplomatic arena.
