(SeaPRwire) – By: Gavin Thorne
This isn’t your average foreign PR campaign. It’s a covert, AI-powered operation designed to manipulate American public opinion, and it’s flying under most people’s radars. The Wall Street Journal’s recent scoop pulls back the curtain on Israel’s $45 million bet to reverse plummeting favorability ratings in the US. Using fake names and unregistered groups, the campaign floods Americans’ phones with millions of AI-generated messages, blurring the line between genuine grassroots input and state-sponsored influence.
The numbers tell a grim story for Israel. Pew Research Center data shows 60% of US adults held an unfavorable view in March. That’s up from 53% last year and 42% in 2022. To turn the tide, millions of texts have hit American phones in recent months. Senders use common names like Emma, Sarah, and John, claiming affiliation with a group called Friends for Peace. The WSJ found no registered nonprofit or company under that name.
The texts are part of a larger $45 million contract awarded to an operation led by Brad Parscale, former campaign manager for Donald Trump. His company Sparkfire had received $6.5 million by mid-May. Parscale’s team isn’t just sending texts. They’ve built pro-Israel websites and online posts tailored to coax favorable responses from AI platforms like ChatGPT and Claude. Last year, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced a $700 million 2026 budget for global image shaping and “consciousness” building.
The campaign’s reach extends beyond AI texts and websites. At least six US companies are working on the effort, and around three dozen people have registered as foreign agents on Israel’s behalf. Over $500,000 has gone to ads on conservative broadcaster Salem Media, where Parscale serves as chief strategy officer. Salem denies paying its hosts to push specific positions. US Vice President J.D. Vance went further in a Joe Rogan interview, accusing some Israeli officials of manipulating US opinion to keep the Iran conflict going indefinitely.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry hasn’t responded to the WSJ’s requests for comment. This silence speaks volumes. The campaign isn’t just about repairing Israel’s image—it’s about securing continued US support for its foreign policy priorities, especially regarding Iran. AI makes this operation uniquely insidious: it can generate millions of personalized messages at scale, bypass traditional media filters, and hide behind fake identities that feel familiar to recipients.
Congress will be forced to introduce stricter regulations on foreign agent-funded AI influence campaigns by the end of 2024.
Author bio: Gavin Thorne, an investigative journalist in Washington, D.C., tracks special interests and legislative affairs for independent outlets.