How Was The US-Israel Alliance Built? From Truman To Trump

Just eleven minutes after Israel declared statehood in 1948, the United States became the first country to recognise it. Nearly seventy years later, it was also the first to formally and controversially recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. This video explores one of the most consequential and emotionally charged alliances in modern history. The US–Israel relationship has been shaped not just by strategy and security, but by religion, politics, shared narratives, and powerful historical forces. From early American Puritans who saw their nation as a “new Israel,” to decades of deep military and economic cooperation - amounting to over $300 billion in aid - this partnership has long been considered unshakeable. However, in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks and the war in Gaza, US support has surged once again - yet public opinion is shifting. Younger Americans are more critical, political divisions are growing, and what was once a near-unquestioned consensus is now under strain. So how did this relationship become so strong and why is it now facing new pressure? Bianca Nobilo is joined by historian David Tal to discuss.