Trump endorses Netanyahu ahead of Israel election, backs PM’s leadership on Iran war
The United States president, Donald Trump and the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. (Image courtesy: Wikimedia Comons)
New Delhi: The United States president, Donald Trump, endorsed the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sunday, nine days before Israel’s October 27 parliamentary election. In a Truth Social statement addressed to Israeli voters, he offered his “Complete and Total Endorsement” and praised Netanyahu’s role in the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran.
Trump described Netanyahu as a “Great Warrior Prime Minister” and praised his leadership despite political opposition. “Bibi Netanyahu has been Strong, Brave, and Brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition, including that coming from even Israel, itself,” he wrote on Truth Social. Trump also warned that Washington might have to confront Iran without Israel’s current leader, declaring, “BIBI NETANYAHU WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
Netanyahu responded on X in Hebrew, saying in translation:
“Thank you, President Trump, for the tremendous support and the joint work. Together we will complete the mission!”
In a separate English language video, he said: “I’m so honoured and humbled by your extraordinary endorsement.” He also urged Israelis to heed Trump’s support when voting.
Polls point to difficult coalition arithmetic
Israelis will elect 120 members of the Knesset, with the prime minister chosen through parliamentary coalition-building rather than a direct nationwide vote. A government normally needs the support of at least 61 lawmakers.
An opinion poll published on October 15 by Israeli news publication Zman Yisrael, the Hebrew-language sister website of the Times of Israel, projected 26 seats for Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party and 20 for Netanyahu’s Likud. It projected 54 seats for Jewish-led parties opposing Netanyahu and 49 for his allies, with 13 for Arab parties and four for an unaligned party. Conducted among 500 respondents, the poll had a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points.
Israeli public support for Trump has declined amid disagreements between Washington and Israel over the Iran war, according to Reuters, potentially limiting the endorsement’s electoral impact. If neither Netanyahu’s coalition nor the opposition secures sufficient parliamentary support, the Israeli leader could remain caretaker prime minister while another election is arranged
Eisenkot said he respected Trump but insisted that Israeli citizens alone would decide the election. The vote is Israel’s first national election since the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.
Endorsement follows policy disagreements
Trump had avoided backing Netanyahu earlier, despite their close relationship. Their differences have centred on the Iran war, Israeli operations in Lebanon and efforts to secure regional ceasefires.
The US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28. Trump’s claim that the campaign had devastated Iran militarily and financially remains his assessment rather than an independently established measure of its results.
The endorsement follows earlier instances of Trump backing candidates in foreign elections, including in Hungary, Argentina and Japan. Israel democracy institute researcher Tamar Hermann assessed that his support could help win back wavering Netanyahu voters without attracting broader backing. Aaron David Miller of the Carnegie Endowment for international peace suggested that Trump ultimately sided with a leader he regarded as strong despite disagreements over the Iran war.
The endorsement adds a new dimension to the final days of campaigning but leaves open the central question ahead of the October 27 vote, whether Netanyahu’s bloc, or any alternative coalition, can secure a parliamentary majority.
