President Donald Trump officially endorsed embattled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, providing a significant boost to the incumbent leader late in his reelection campaign. This endorsement, which had been withheld for months as the two leaders' strategies in the Middle East diverged, serves as a major development ahead of the national elections scheduled for October 27. These will be the first national elections held in Israel since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
In a post on social media, Trump praised Netanyahu, calling him a "Great Warrior Prime Minister" and an "even greater Partner for Peace in combatting the Islamic Republic of Iran." The absence of this endorsement had previously been a setback for the Likud politician, who had consistently billed his close ties to the American president as a primary selling point for his continued leadership. Netanyahu responded to the news in a statement posted on X in Hebrew, saying, "Thank you, President Trump, for the tremendous support and work together. Together we will complete the mission!" His Likud Party accompanied the statement with a 35-second video featuring clips of the two leaders and previous praise from Trump.
Trump’s endorsement was coupled with a warning to Iran, as he threatened to "soon finish the job" unless the nation changes its ways rapidly. However, he indicated that his willingness to intervene might be contingent on the Israeli election results. "If Israel has the wrong Leader, which would be anyone other than Bibi, America will have to do this work ourselves, and I am not inclined to do so," Trump stated. He further described Netanyahu as "Strong, Brave, and Brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition, including that coming from even Israel, itself."
The relationship between the two leaders has experienced both alignment and friction. While they appeared closely aligned following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in 2025, they have disagreed on several aspects of the nearly eight-month war with Iran this year. Trump previously criticized Israel’s decision to attack a key Iranian gas field early in the conflict and expressed frustration that Israel's fighting with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon was hindering peace talks with Iran. In June, Trump referred to Netanyahu as "crazy" and noted he was "a little bit perturbed" by the situation.
This endorsement marks a notable shift from recent months, during which Trump repeatedly demurred when asked about his support for the prime minister. In a Time magazine interview published this month, Trump claimed, "I'm not involved in politics anymore," despite his active campaigning for other U.S. politicians. Throughout his second term, Trump has frequently sought to endorse candidates in foreign elections, including Viktor Orbán in Hungary, Sanae Takaichi in Japan, and Karol Nawrocki in Poland. Additionally, in November, Trump sent a letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog requesting a pardon for Netanyahu regarding corruption charges.
