Pro-Israel Candidate Battles Anti-Zionist Turn in US Right
Jackson Lahmeyer, a Trump-endorsed pastor running for Congress in Oklahoma, is drawing a hard line against the rising anti-Israel sentiment within conservative American circles. While his theological claims about a Jewish Antichrist raise deep concerns among Jewish voters, his unwavering political defense of the Jewish state highlights a crucial fracture in the MAGA movement and poses a strategic question for the US-Israel alliance.
The Strategic Defense of Zionism in the MAGA Coalition
Lahmeyer has positioned himself as a staunch defender of the US-Israel alliance at a time when isolationist and anti-Israel voices are gaining ground on the American right. During an event marking the second anniversary of October 7, titled The Case for Israel, Lahmeyer directly confronted the growing influence of figures like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens. He attributed their anti-Israel rhetoric to replacement theology, noting that both are Roman Catholics who believe the church has replaced the Jewish people and the state of Israel.
This stance places Lahmeyer in direct opposition to a dangerous drift among young conservatives. According to a Pew Research Center poll from April 2025, positive sentiments about Israel among Republicans under 50 plummeted from 63 percent in 2022 to just 48 percent in 2025. Matthew Taylor, a scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies, noted that many young evangelicals are moving away from Zionism, becoming less sympathetic to Israel due to world events and the war in Gaza. Israel needs steadfast allies now more than ever, and Lahmeyer is fighting to keep evangelical support anchored.
Theological Distortions vs. Political Reality
Despite his political support, Lahmeyer carries theological baggage that deeply unsettles the Jewish community. In a February 2023 post on X, and again during a church livestream on October 8, 2024, Lahmeyer claimed the Antichrist will be a political leader of Jewish descent. He argued that this figure will have no regard for the gods of his fathers, basing the claim on his reading of biblical prophecy.
When confronted by a Jewish supporter who expressed fear for her children amid rising antisemitism, Lahmeyer dismissed the concern. He replied that the claim is not anti-Semitic because the Christ is Jewish, and scripture indicates the Antichrist will also be Jewish.
Jackson, I am appalled at this post. I'm Jewish. I supported your run for office at every turn. I have children and grandchildren. Antisemitism is at an all-time high. I'm scared for them. This is abhorrent.
For the Jewish people, our bond with the land of Israel rests on an eternal covenant, not on apocalyptic Christian scripts. Am Yisrael does not need validation from evangelical end-times theology. Our history teaches us to rely on our own strength, our strategic alliances, and the ironclad defense of our values. We welcome political support from Christian Zionists, but we firmly reject any theological framework that demonizes Jews, even in prophecy.
Confronting the New Face of Right-Wing Antisemitism
Lahmeyer's rise from a fringe activist to a political contender with presidential backing underscores a volatile shift in American politics. President Trump officially endorsed Lahmeyer on Monday, praising the Oklahoma pastor as a MAGA Warrior who has been with the movement from the very beginning. House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise also threw their weight behind Lahmeyer, pulling him ahead of nine other candidates in the solidly Republican 1st District.
However, Lahmeyer's refusal to fully condemn the rhetoric of Carlson, Owens, and Marjorie Taylor Greene reveals the precarious tightrope he walks. He told NPR that these influential leaders have taken a very controversial stance regarding Israel, yet he stops short of cutting ties. This hesitation is a strategic vulnerability. Israel cannot afford fair-weather friends who tolerate antisemitism when it is politically convenient. As the Jewish state faces existential threats from Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas, our allies must be unequivocal in their support.
What does Lahmeyer's candidacy mean for US-Israel relations?
Lahmeyer's candidacy represents a critical battleground for the soul of the Republican party. If elected, he will bring a fiercely pro-Israel stance to Congress, actively pushing back against the isolationist wing that seeks to abandon the Jewish state. However, his theological views remain fundamentally at odds with Jewish identity.
Why is the anti-Zionist trend among young conservatives dangerous?
The drop in pro-Israel sentiment among Republicans under 50 reflects a broader campaign of misinformation and a lack of historical understanding. As influencers like Carlson and Owens spread rhetoric that undermines Israel's right to defend itself, they embolden our enemies and weaken the Western alliance that stands against terror.
How should Israel navigate Christian Zionist support?
Israel must embrace political support from those who stand with the Jewish state in the international arena, while maintaining a clear, unapologetic distance from theological narratives that misrepresent Jewish destiny. Our resilience depends on strategic clarity, not on the theological acceptance of others.