The Israeli Foreign Ministry is spending $86,000 to fly 16 MAGA-aligned influencers to Israel, documents show. The goal isn't diplomacy—it's algorithmic persuasion. At $5,375 per creator, it's a bargain compared to traditional lobbying, and twice as effective for Gen Z audiences.

These influencers—all under 30, with followings in the hundreds of thousands to millions—were handpicked for their pro-Trump, "America First" content. Their mission? Reframe Israel's image among young conservatives, whose support has cratered since the Gaza war began in 2023.

The Playbook

  • Controlled exposure: Show bomb shelters, not bombings. Let them film with IDF soldiers, not Palestinian rubble.
  • Algorithmic authenticity: Push "organic" content that toes Israel's line—no ministry logos, just "real talk" from trusted voices.
  • Scalable propaganda: This is a trial run. Israel plans 500+ influencer delegations by 2025, per Haaretz.

The strategy is outsourced to Israel365, a group that rejects a two-state solution as a "delusion" and aligns with MAGA's far-right base. Their pitch? Biblical claims to the land and "defending Western civilization" against "Progressive Left extremism."

Why It Works

Young conservatives increasingly distrust traditional media. A folksy TikTok from a 22-year-old "patriot" reaches farther than a State Department memo. As one Israeli official admitted to Haaretz:

"Their messages are more effective than if they came directly from the ministry."

Cold War 2.0

This isn't PR—it's agitprop for the digital age. Where Soviets used posters, Israel uses viral videos. The weapons have changed; the war for minds hasn't.

And with 550 more influencer trips planned, Gaza's PR battle is about to get uglier.

Sources