Fox News broadcast a sharply critical advertisement against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during its flagship morning program "Fox & Friends" on Tuesday, September 16. The 30-second spot, aimed directly at President Donald Trump, accuses Netanyahu of a long history of deceiving American leaders and urges the U.S. president not to fall for what it calls "the big con" on Gaza policy.
The ad opens with stark narration: "For years, Netanyahu manipulated American presidents. He tricked Bill Clinton, he swindled Obama, he took Biden for a ride. Now he’s trying to con you about Gaza, President Trump." It escalates further, stating, "But everyone who’s ever trusted Netanyahu has gotten burned. He cares only about himself. He’s desperate. He’s played weak American presidents for suckers. President Trump, don’t let him do that to you."
Sponsored by the enigmatic group MAGAFNP, an acronym with no apparent meaning or online presence, the commercial has sparked immediate speculation about its origins and funding. Searches for MAGAFNP yield zero results on social media, websites, or public records, leading observers to question whether it represents a pro-Palestinian advocacy effort, a domestic political maneuver, or even a deep-pocketed anonymous donor testing the waters ahead of potential U.S. policy shifts on the Middle East.
"Fox & Friends," a daily staple for Trump and his supporters, typically features pro-Israel commentary and has been a platform for Netanyahu's defenders in the past. The decision to air the ad has fueled theories of internal tensions at the network, with some critics pointing to the influence of the Murdoch family amid broader debates over U.S. involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Fox News has not publicly commented on the ad's approval or the sponsor's identity.
The spot's timing is notable, coming just days after Netanyahu's recent statements on expanding Israeli control over Gaza to dismantle Hamas, a position that has drawn both support and criticism from U.S. conservatives. Trump, who has historically enjoyed a close alliance with Netanyahu, has not yet responded to the ad, though it has rapidly gone viral on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
