US President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s closely contested parliamentary election scheduled for October 27, giving the long-serving leader a boost in his bid to secure another term in office.
Trump announced his support on Sunday, praising Netanyahu’s leadership and describing him as a strong and dependable partner of the United States.
In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Netanyahu had remained strong, brave and brilliant despite facing significant opposition, including criticism within Israel.
He added that the Israeli leader represented the kind of partner the United States wanted and declared his complete support for Netanyahu’s re-election campaign.
“Please let this letter serve to represent my complete and total endorsement of Bibi Netanyahu in his upcoming race for re-election as Prime Minister of Israel,” Trump wrote.
Netanyahu welcomed the endorsement, expressing appreciation for Trump’s support and highlighting their close working relationship.
In a video released by his Likud party, Netanyahu said the two leaders had worked together to weaken Iran and argued that another term in office would enable him to continue cooperating with Trump to address what he described as the Iranian threat.
He urged Israeli voters to pay attention to Trump’s comments, insisting that although significant achievements had been recorded, more work remained to be done.
“Thank you, President Trump, for your tremendous support and for our work together. Together we will complete the mission!” Netanyahu wrote on X.
The endorsement comes less than two weeks before Israel’s first parliamentary election since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, which triggered a series of military conflicts involving Israel.
Netanyahu has faced strong criticism from opposition politicians over the attack, with his opponents accusing him of bearing personal responsibility for the security failures that allowed the assault to take place.
The election is widely viewed as a referendum on his leadership, particularly his handling of national security, the wars involving Israel and the country’s international relations.
Trump’s intervention could strengthen Netanyahu’s campaign at a time when opinion polls indicate a tight contest between the prime minister’s political bloc and the opposition.
The two leaders have maintained close relations throughout Israel’s military campaigns following the Hamas-led attack, including their cooperation in the conflict with Iran.
However, their positions have not always been identical, particularly regarding how to deal with Tehran. While Netanyahu has argued that diplomacy cannot produce a lasting agreement with Iran’s leadership, Trump has at times pursued negotiations to end the conflict.
Trump participated in a US-Israeli attack on Iran in late February before agreeing to a ceasefire in April amid widespread opposition to the war in the United States and a sharp rise in global oil prices.
Netanyahu has repeatedly praised Trump, describing him as one of Israel’s greatest friends in the White House.
Iran Accuses Netanyahu of Pushing US Towards Another War
Trump’s endorsement has drawn a sharp response from Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, who accused Netanyahu of attempting to drag Washington into another military confrontation with Tehran.
In a post on X, Araghchi warned that another attempt to defeat Iran could produce the opposite result.
He argued that Iran had emerged stronger from the previous conflict and warned that Tehran also had unresolved issues with Israel.
The exchange highlights the continuing tensions between Israel and Iran as Netanyahu seeks another term in office.
US Raises Concern Over Settler Violence
The endorsement also comes amid growing international criticism of Israel over violence in the occupied West Bank.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently expressed concern over an attack by Israeli settlers that left an American photojournalist working for The Washington Post injured.
Rubio said the US government was disturbed by the images and reports surrounding the incident.
Netanyahu’s office subsequently stated that the circumstances of the attack were being investigated.
With Israel facing increasing diplomatic pressure internationally, Trump’s public backing is considered politically significant for Netanyahu’s re-election campaign.
Netanyahu Faces Strong Opposition
Netanyahu, who turns 77 on October 21, is Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, having spent more than 19 years in office across different periods.
He returned to power in December 2022 after forming a coalition that included ultra-nationalist political groups.
His administration has also faced controversy over proposed judicial changes and corruption allegations. The corruption cases against him could carry serious legal consequences if he is convicted.
His main challenger is opposition politician Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the centre-right Yashar party and a former military chief.
Eisenkot has repeatedly criticised Netanyahu over the October 7 attack, arguing that the prime minister must accept responsibility for the security failures surrounding the incident.
Reacting to Trump’s endorsement, Eisenkot said he respected the American president but insisted that the choice of Israel’s next leader belonged exclusively to Israeli voters.
Speaking at a conference in Tel Aviv, he stressed that Israel was a democratic country and that its citizens alone had the authority to decide who should govern them.
Trump, however, warned Israelis against electing anyone other than Netanyahu, suggesting that a different outcome could force the United States to take on responsibilities he was unwilling to assume.
Approximately seven million Israelis are expected to be eligible to vote in the parliamentary election.
Current opinion polls indicate that neither Netanyahu’s bloc nor the opposition alliance led by Eisenkot is projected to secure the 61 seats required for a majority in Israel’s 120-member parliament.
The results could therefore lead to difficult coalition negotiations, making the election a crucial test of Netanyahu’s political strength and his ability to remain in power.
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