Americans fear Iran is now biggest enemy after Biden handed them $6bn 'ransom payment'

Joe Biden's decision to hand over $6 billion to Iran has caused a huge backlash amid claims that money may have helped fund Hamas' terrorist atrocities against Israel.

With more than 1,400 Israeli's murdered including babies beheaded and children burnt to death by Hamas terrorist thugs, attention has turned on how Iran may have funded their atrocities.

Exclusive polling by the Washington-based Democracy Institute for the Daily Express US has revealed the depth of anger against President Biden signing of $6 billion to the fundamentalist Islamic regime.

The President unfroze $6bn of Iranian funds earlier this year as part of an agreement to release five US hostages being held by the Tehran regime.

Republicans have called it a "ransom payment" and former President Trump has vowed that he would never condone such an action if he returns to the White House.

READ MORE: Trump v Biden: Democrats warned if they stick with 'too old' Joe they'll get Kamala

According to the polling of 1,500 likely US voters 55 percent now see Iran as the biggest danger in the Middle East while overall the country comes second only to China as the greatest threat in the world.

Meanwhile, 57 percent disapprove of Biden's "ransom" payment to 38 percent approve and six in 10 (60 percent) preferred Trump's approach of never paying for hostages.

More than seven in 10 (71 percent) want America to "stop appeasing Iran" and 61 percent want the country to get fully behind Israel in its time of crisis.

Almost six in 10 (59 percent) want the US to form closer ties with Saudi Arabia to counterbalance the danger posed by Iran and 52 percent disapprove of Biden prioritising the Tehran regime instead.

There is also a clear focus on the role of another Gulf state Qatar which has been harbouring Hamas leaders and acting a s ago between with Iran - 81 percent want pressure put on the Qatari Royal family to get hostages released.

Speaking yesterday, former President Trump contrasted the difference in his White House policy and the appeasement of Biden's.

He said: "The heinous attacks on Israel this month would NEVER have happened if I was your president—zero chance.

"When I left office, Iran was weak, broke, and desperate to make a deal.

"I told other nations including China that if you buy oil from Iran you can’t do business in the United States. Every single one of them complied.  

"Their terrorist regime was bankrupt, hemorrhaging money, and could barely pay the salaries of their radical Islamic thugs.

"I hammered Iranian oil exports down to a record low—but then Biden came in, loosened my sanctions, and today Iran is producing more than 3 million barrels a day. Iran went from bleeding money under me to raking in $100 billion dollars a year under Crooked Joe.

"On top of that, Biden gave Iran $6 billion dollars for hostages—and now, these tens of billions of dollars are being used to kill, kidnap, torture, rape, and murder innocent people.

"Iran started the attack on Israel and desperately wants to become openly involved. 'Death to Israel,' 'Death to America', they chant.

"Our country has never been so low, or in such danger, as it is right now."

He added: "It's very simple—Joe Biden betrayed America and betrayed Israel, but as your president, I will stand with Israel 100 percent. I kept Israel safe before—and with four more years in the White House, I will defend the state of Israel like no one else can."

Democracy Institute poll results

Israel—Hamas War

Q: “The Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday, October 7th. To date, Hamas has killed over 1,200 Israelis, including at least 250 at a music festival, and kidnapped more than 120. The State Department confirms 29 Americans died in the attack. Who should America support in the war between Israel and Hamas?”

• Israel = 61%

• Hamas = 11%

• Neither = 20%

• Don’t Know = 8%

Q: “Given Iran's longstanding financial and political support of Hamas, and given that Iran helped Hamas plan and support the attacks on Israel, should the Biden administration end its policy of reestablishing good relations with the Iranian government?”

• Yes = 71%

• No = 25%

• Don’t Know = 4%

Q: “Hamas’ leadership currently lives in Qatar under the protection of the Qatari government. Should the Biden administration pressure the Qatari government to force Hamas to release the American hostages taken during Hamas’ attacks on Israel?”

• Yes = 81% 

• No = 15%

• Don’t Know = 4%

Q: “Did you approve or disapprove of the Trump administration's policy of not paying ransom money to foreign governments and terrorist organizations to secure the release of American hostages?”

• Approve = 60%

• Disapprove = 37%

• Don’t Know = 3%

Q: “Do you approve or disapprove of the Biden administration August decision to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian assets and return the money to the Iranian government in exchange for the release of five American prisoners?”

• Approve = 38%

• Disapprove = 57%

• Don’t Know = 5%

Q: “Do you approve or disapprove of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?”

• Approve = 16%

• Disapprove = 71%

• Don’t Know = 13%

Economic Relations with Gulf States

Q: “The Arab nations Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates are very important oil-based economies. Each one is becoming less dependent upon oil and are more open to direct North American and European investment in their domestic economy, encouraging Western tourists and entertainment spending, and promoting their sports teams to Western TV audiences. Is this trend good news for America?”

• Yes = 64%

• No = 29%

• Don't Know = 7%

Q: “Would you like to see Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations play a larger role in the global economy?”

• Yes = 61%

• No = 34%

• Don’t Know = 5%

Q: “Should America seek a closer economic relationship with Saudi Arabia?”

• Yes = 59%

• No = 29%

• Don’t Know = 12%

Q: “Do you approve or disapprove of the Saudi Arabian leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS?”

• Approve = 44%

• Disapprove = 30%

• Don’t Know = 26%

Q: “Do you approve or disapprove of the Biden administration's policy of prioritizing a better relationship with Iran over better relations with Saudi Arabia?”

• Approve = 36%

• Disapprove = 52%

• Don’t Know = 12%

Middle Eastern Allies & Dangers

Q: “Excluding Israel, which Middle Eastern country is currently America's strongest ally?”

• Kuwait = 27%

• Saudi Arabia = 24%

• Jordan = 12%

• Egypt = 11%

• United Arab Emirates = 9%

• Iraq = 9%

• Bahrain = 3%

• Lebanon = 3%

• Qatar = 2%

Q: “In the Middle East, which country currently poses the greatest danger to America?”

• Iran = 55% 

• Syria = 17%

• Iraq = 9%

• Yemen = 5%

• Qatar = 5%

• Egypt = 4%

• Saudi Arabia = 4%

• Lebanon = 1%

Poll Methodology

The fieldwork for this survey of a randomly selected national telephone (landline and cell) sample of 1,500 likely American voters was conducted by the DI polling unit between October 14th and October 16th 2023. The survey was conducted via interactive voice response, in which recorded questions were played for randomly-dialled respondents and answers were given via their telephone keypads. To ensure a representative sample, the results were weighted for key demographic and political variables including, but not limited to, gender, age, education, income, region, partisan identification, voting history, and cell phone-only households. This national poll has a margin of error of (+/-) 3 percent at a 95 percent confidence interval.