In the wake of President Joe Biden’s recent stance on arms shipments to Israel and intelligence sharing regarding Hamas, a new political dynamic is taking shape. Some former Never Trump donors are now reconsidering their stance, viewing Biden’s bid for a second term as a greater threat to America.
Referred to as the ‘Never Bidens,’ these donors, who previously prioritized opposition to former President Donald Trump, are shifting their focus due to what they perceive as a betrayal in Biden’s approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict. In a conversation with The Free Press, several donors, including prominent figures like Cliff Asness and Haim Saban, expressed their disillusionment with Biden’s policy shift.
Cliff Asness, a Republican donor who previously backed Nikki Haley, emphasized his disappointment with Biden’s arms embargo on Israel, stating, “My ‘Never Again’ is trumping my ‘Never Trump’ these days.” Asness’s sentiment echoes that of others who are increasingly viewing Trump as a preferable alternative in light of Biden’s actions.
Haim Saban, a billionaire entertainment mogul and Democratic donor, underscored the significance of Israel-related policies, noting, “There are more Jewish voters who care about Israel than Muslim voters that care about Hamas.” Similarly, hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman criticized Biden’s decision, calling it “one of the worst acts against an ally of a sitting president ever.”
Crazy. This is one of the worst acts against an ally of a sitting president ever. Hopefully, this means he won’t be sitting for much longer. https://t.co/PFQXpNwjpn
— Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) May 9, 2024
Ackman also responded to a Truth Social post from Trump, which read: “Crooked Joe Biden, whether he knows it or not, just said he will withhold weapons from Israel as they fight to eradicate Hamas Terrorists in Gaza. Hamas murdered thousands of innocent civilians, including babies, and are still holding Americans hostage, if the hostages are still alive.”
In his comment, the Democrat megadonor declared that Trump “speaks the truth.”
The shift in donor sentiment is reflected in political circles, with David Friedman, former ambassador to Israel under Trump, observing an increase in support for Trump among Jewish donors. Friedman highlighted Biden’s arms decision as a pivotal moment prompting many former skeptics to lean towards supporting Trump.
Michael Granoff, a managing partner at Maniv, expressed his disillusionment with Biden, stating, “I am not voting for Biden.” Granoff, a former staffer on the Clinton-Gore campaign, lamented Biden’s departure from his earlier commitments regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Recent polls indicate Biden trailing Trump in several swing states, reflecting the broader impact of his Israel policy on electoral dynamics. Despite approving a $1 billion arms package to Israel, Biden’s freeze on certain munitions has exacerbated concerns among pro-Israel donors.
The emergence of ‘Never Bidens’ underscores the evolving landscape of political allegiance, where policy decisions regarding key international issues can reshape donor priorities and electoral outcomes.
