That was the doing of Eddie Jacobson.
George Catlett Marshall had exchanged his uniform and four stars for a double-breasted suit to become Harry Truman's Secretary of State. Marshall argued against recognition of Israel because it would anger the Arabs, who were becoming an important source of oil. He also believed that it would give the Soviets a handle in the Middle East as they swung toward support of the Arabs.
Eddie Jacobson had been Truman's partner in a men's clothing store in Kansas City that went bust during the Depression, which caused Truman to move into politics. Jacobson broke down in tears over the phone, begging President Truman to recognize Israel. "Goddammit, Eddie," Truman said, "stop crying! I'll do it!"
And that's how we were the first to recognize Israel.
Socialists are nazis.
Trump is not a socialist.
The version I read was that Truman had refused to see the elderly Dr. Chaim Weizman who would become Israel’s first president (Ben-Gurion as prime minister), to give the U.S.’s blessing to the new Jewish state. Some mixup with the American Jewish Committee had angered Truman.
Eddie Jacobson had access to the Oval Office and made his case to Truman for Dr. Weizman. He concluded that Truman’s refusal was uncharacteristic, “it does not sound like you, Harry”.
Suddenly, Jacobson saw Truman drumming his fingers on the arm of his swivel chair (”I thought, he’s changing his mind”).
Then Truman wheeled about & smiled at Jacobson: “All right, you baldheaded sonofabitch! I’ll see him. Tell Matt to arrange a meeting as soon as possible after I get back from New York”.
The meeting took place, and American recognition of the new state of Israel was assured.