Former UFC middleweight champion MMA athlete Sean Strickland has publicly introduced that he’ll vote for Democrats slightly than a Republican candidate backed by the American Israeli Public Affairs Fee (AIPAC).
Sean Strickland blames Republicans
On July 31, 2025, Sean Strickland wrote for X. “I am unable to consider I am saying this, however I am voting for Democrats towards the AIPAC Republican candidate. It sounds simpler for 4 years to Democrats than politicians owned by overseas governments.” He added, “Ted Cruise was a very calm reminder of how a lot our flesh pressers personal it.” I defined this “For me, the strains within the sand. ”
Strickland has supported Republican figures previously, however essentially the most notable former President Donald Trump has appeared within the picture. In June 2025, he criticized Trump’s proposal to grab Gaza territory, writing that the president was “to begin waving the Palestinian flag” and claimed that the administration had spent billions of roads on what he known as “dumpstar fires.” The fighter’s attitudes have modified amid a fierce battle between Israel and Gaza. There, widespread civilian difficulties and starvation have elicited criticism of US assist for Israeli army motion.
“Have we made a mistake? ! This isn’t America. ”
AIPAC
AIPAC is the main Israeli lobbying group in the USA. Based in 1954, it really works to strengthen US insurance policies supporting Israel by way of lobbying, political motion committees, fundraising and education schemes. Though AIPAC doesn’t immediately fund candidates, its related PACS contributed greater than $560,000 to Senator Ted Cruz between 2019 and 2024, changing into his high donor. Critics have defined that AIPAC has had a significant influence on US overseas coverage within the Center East. Supporters name it a bipartisan advocate for each us and Israel’s safety pursuits.
Ted Cross
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas is likely one of the most vocal advocates for sustainable US army support to Israel. In an interview with Tucker Carlson in June, Cruz cited biblical texts to justify his assist for Israel and acknowledged that he acquired necessary marketing campaign contributions from AIPAC and its donors. Cruz argued that Israel, which helps Israel, serves each the US and Israeli safety, framing the battle between Iran and Gaza as a battle between “good and evil” and “civilization vs. barrage.”
Throughout the Republican Celebration, assist for Israel has lengthy been thought-about a function of conservative overseas coverage. Republican lawmakers keep excessive ranges of recognition for army support to Israel, whilst public assist declines amongst different US voters.
A current Axios report famous that younger conservatives and a few veteran MAGA figures have questioned unconditional assist for Israel amidst Gaza’s humanitarian considerations and rising US protection spending. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene turned the primary Republican in Congress to name attacking Gaza “genocide” and took a break with the occasion’s conventional stance.
Strickland displays broader debate amongst Republicans in regards to the ideas of “America First” and the long-standing US alliance. He argued that politicians betray home priorities “overseas authorities owned” and that the eight-year democratic chief would show much less entangled with overseas pursuits than GOPs according to the AIPAC.
Public opinion concerning our involvement within the Israeli-Gaza battle has modified dramatically. A Gallup ballot in late July discovered that solely 32% of Individuals authorised Israeli army motion in Gaza, down from 42% the earlier yr, and 60% disapproved. Amongst Republicans, approvals rose to 71%, whereas assist between independents and Democrats recorded lows of 25% and eight%, respectively.
