Trump meets six anti-Zionist rabbis to discuss Gaza ceasefire

US President Donald Trump met privately in the Oval Office last week with six ultra-Orthodox Jewish rabbis who openly oppose Zionism, a rare sit-down that underscores the growing influence of anti-Zionist Haredi factions on his Israel policy as the Gaza war grinds into its ninth month.

The meeting followed weeks of quiet lobbying by the rabbis and their allies, who argue that Israel’s military draft of yeshiva students violates Jewish law and that the war in Gaza has strayed from Israel’s stated moral mission. Trump’s team framed the session as part of broader outreach to Jewish communities ahead of November’s election, but the attendees’ hardline stance on Israel—including calls for a ceasefire and opposition to Jewish statehood—marks a sharp departure from the president’s traditional pro-Israel posture.

The six rabbis, all affiliated with the fervently anti-Zionist Satmar Hasidic group, represent a small but vocal minority within Orthodox Judaism. Their movement rejects the idea of a Jewish state on theological grounds, arguing that Jewish sovereignty can only be restored by divine intervention. Yet their influence has grown in recent months as Trump seeks to balance his strong support for Israel with pressure to curb civilian casualties in Gaza and ease tensions with American Jewish voters disillusioned by his hardline policies. Polls show Trump’s approval among Jewish voters has slipped, with many citing his unconditional backing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a liability.

The meeting signals a potential shift in Trump’s approach to Israel, even if modest. While the White House has not signaled a change in policy, the rabbis reportedly pressed Trump to use his leverage to push Israel toward a ceasefire and to reconsider U.S. military aid tied to civilian protections. With Israel facing mounting international criticism over its conduct in Gaza and Netanyahu’s government increasingly isolated, Trump’s willingness to engage with anti-Zionist voices could foreshadow a more nuanced stance—one that prioritizes political pragmatism over ideological alignment. For Jewish voters in key swing states, the meeting may serve as a reminder that Trump’s loyalty to Israel is not absolute.