Trump Campaign Manager - Hired by Israel to Shift Public Opinion on the Iran Agreement

Report: Israel pays Brad Parscale 1.5 million dollars per month to boost its image among young conservatives in the US and MAGA backers. The investigation shows influencers he recruited also campaigned against the president's policy after the memorandum of understanding was signed. Trump administration officials are worried, and Jerusalem is angry: 'It was meant to improve things but only made them worse'

Brad Parscale, who ran Trump's 2016 online campaign and earned the nickname digital guru, directed a social media effort for Israel aimed at strengthening its position among young conservatives and MAGA supporters. The report noted that American officials claimed the operation ultimately sought to shape discussion around President Donald Trump's policies after the memorandum of understanding with Iran was signed.

After the United States and Iran reached a temporary ceasefire in June, a senior American official monitoring online reactions noticed that influencers aligned with the MAGA movement posted nearly identical messages opposing the agreement and Trump's approach. Upon reviewing the posts, the official concluded the activity might reflect coordinated planning rather than purely organic development.

Documents examined under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act revealed that in September an international advertising firm named Havas retained Parscale's company Clock Tower X to run a digital campaign for Israel. The contract required production of 100 original content pieces each month, most directed at younger audiences on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and podcasts.

Parscale committed to expanding the campaign's reach across social networks, generating tens of millions of impressions monthly, and attempting to influence how artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT present information about Israel and the conflict. The agreed monthly payment stood at 1.5 million dollars.

Officially the campaign was framed as part of the fight against rising online antisemitism. However, an Israeli Foreign Ministry source told the magazine that an additional goal was preventing young conservatives from drifting away from Israel. Parscale presented himself as uniquely positioned to reach this audience thanks to his Trump campaign experience and familiarity with internet culture and MAGA communities.

Parscale confirmed the activity aimed to stop young conservatives from distancing themselves from Israel but strongly rejected claims that the campaign was used to undermine Trump's policies. He stated he had never funded, organized or participated in any effort to work against President Trump, including regarding the memorandum of understanding or ceasefire proposal. He described allegations that he coordinated efforts to prolong the conflict as completely false and blamed anonymous actors for turning him into a scapegoat.

The campaign involved a network of conservative companies and influencers. Three sources familiar with the effort said influencers received suggested post wording through private chat groups and were compensated based on the exposure and engagement generated.

One influencer mentioned, Eyal Yaacobi, a young college graduate with a popular X account, said he was paid to combat online antisemitism. He added the company never compensated him for promoting views he did not already hold, describing the arrangement as a collaboration rather than representation by an agency.

Trump administration figures expressed concern that an initiative originally intended to preserve support for Israel among American conservatives had become a move potentially at odds with the president's political interests. A senior US intelligence official noted the situation involved influencers paid by a foreign country attempting to shift the president's stance or the views of those around him.

Parscale dismissed the investigation's assertions and argued that not every pro-Israel voice among influencers was connected to his work. He called the notion that every pro-Israel statement must belong to a coordinated campaign ridiculous, pointing out that these individuals already support President Trump and view Israel as a vital ally.

The campaign led by Parscale continues, yet dissatisfaction extends beyond the Trump administration to Israel itself over its execution. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government hired Parscale to improve Israel's standing among conservatives, but instead observes ongoing erosion of support both on the American right and among the broader public.

An Israeli source familiar with the arrangement expressed anger at Parscale, stating he was supposed to improve the situation yet the position has only deteriorated despite substantial payments.

The report also observed that Israel is not the only country seeking to shape discourse in the United States. Nations such as Russia, Iran and China have conducted similar digital influence operations to advance their interests. An American intelligence source highlighted what sets this case apart: the target was not the general public or swing voters but the president's own political base.