Israel Runs Influence Campaign in US to Deter Trump From Iran Deal

Israel hired Brad Parscale, former campaign manager for US President Donald Trump, to lead an influence operation in the United States aimed at pressuring Trump not to sign a deal with Iran, according to a report by Time magazine on Tuesday. The campaign followed the June 17 ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran, during which Trump’s supporters, particularly those aligned with the MAGA movement, sharply criticized the deal on social media with coordinated posts.

An American official monitoring the campaign concluded that Parscale was behind the orchestrated criticism. In September, the global advertising agency Havas contracted Parscale’s company, Clock Tower X, to run a digital campaign on Israel’s behalf, as revealed by Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) filings reviewed by Time. The contract required producing 100 original pieces monthly, with at least 80% targeting Generation Z audiences on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Parscale promised at least 50 million digital impressions per month and influence over AI characterizations of Israel and the conflict, for which Israel paid $1.5 million monthly.

Publicly, the campaign was presented as an effort to combat rising antisemitism online. However, an Israeli Foreign Ministry source disclosed a strategic goal to prevent young conservatives from turning against Israel. Parscale promoted his unique ability to improve Israel’s image among young conservatives, citing his experience with Trump’s political operation and understanding of modern internet architecture.

Parscale denied coordinating efforts against Trump’s interests, stating he never funded or organized any campaign to undermine the president or his ceasefire proposal. He accused anonymous officials of falsely portraying him as an antagonist.

According to three insiders, Parscale managed a network of linked organizations that directed conservative influencers with suggested messaging for social media posts, compensating them based on engagement. Israeli officials expressed dissatisfaction with Parscale’s results, questioning the value of the substantial payments. Frustration also existed within the White House, where the campaign was seen as conflicting with Trump’s political goals as Israeli and Trump war aims diverged.

A senior US intelligence official warned that paying American influencers to sway the president or his circle is a serious matter that cannot be dismissed lightly. The report highlights tensions between Israel’s efforts to maintain right-wing American support and the complexities of US domestic politics surrounding the Iran deal.