Christian Voters and Israel: A Complex Alliance in the 2024 Election

As the 2024 U.S. presidential election nears, Donald Trump and the Republican Party continue to enjoy strong support from segments of Christian voters—particularly white evangelical Protestants, who make up a significant share of the electorate in key swing states like Georgia.

A recent Pew Research poll found that Trump commands:

• 82% support among white evangelical Protestants

• 58% of white non-evangelical Protestants

• 52% of Catholics

By contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris has the support of 86% of Black Protestants, a demographic that historically leans Democratic.

Georgia, where white evangelical Protestants account for 38% of the population, could again prove decisive after flipping narrowly for Biden in 2020. Black Protestants make up 17% of Georgia’s population.

Support for Israel remains strong among evangelicals, driven partly by theological beliefs that see Jewish control of Jerusalem as essential to the Second Coming. According to a Chicago Council analysis, 82% of white evangelicals believe Israel was divinely granted to the Jewish people, and 64% justify its actions in Gaza. However, views are not monolithic.

Younger Republican voters, including evangelicals, are increasingly critical of U.S. foreign aid, including support for Israel. A Data for Progress poll found that 52% of Republicans aged 18–29 favor an arms embargo on Israel.

Some evangelical voters, like 20-year-old Anabaptist Troy from Austell, Georgia, question why Israel is such a focal point. “We keep sending billions to Ukraine and Israel, but people here are still suffering from natural disasters,” he said, referencing Hurricane Helene.

Trump has touted himself as a staunch ally of Israel, frequently citing his close communication with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and framing himself as a bulwark against threats to the Jewish state. He’s also claimed that the October 7 attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza would not have happened under his leadership.

As generational and ideological shifts emerge within evangelical and conservative circles, Israel’s role in shaping U.S. voter priorities may face new challenges in 2024.