US President Donald Trump has endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the Israeli legislative elections.
Slated to take place on October 27, these elections are expected to be a historic poll of public consensus on the country's governance, particularly since this is the first election to take place following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks that led to Israel’s multi-front Middle Eastern war.
With issues of ultra-Orthodox military enlistment, the October 7 security failures, and the push to launch a public inquiry into such failures at the forefront of the public debate, it remains to be seen whether Trump’s endorsement will provide Netanyahu with an electoral boost a little over two weeks before the critical vote.
“Bibi Netanyahu has been a Great Warrior Prime Minister, and an even greater Partner for Peace in combating the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
Speaking on the war against Iran, Trump claimed that, “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. Bibi Netanyahu has been Strong, Brave, and Brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition, including that coming from even Israel itself. Despite all of that, he has endured and, in fact, he has thrived!”
“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 continued, before concluding, “BIBI NETANYAHU WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
Soon after Trump’s announcement, Netanyahu responded with a public statement of his own.
“President Trump, my friend Donald - thank you for your extraordinary endorsement,” the Israeli prime minister wrote on X. “Israel has never had a greater friend in the White House. Together we will never let Iran's regime get nuclear weapons. Thank you for your clarity, courage and unwavering support.”
Netanyahu also addressed the US president in a video accompanying the text.
"I was always going to do that. I just didn't want to do it too soon," Trump told Axios in a short phone interview, referring to his endorsement of Netanyahu.
Trump explained that he and Netanyahu have a "good relationship" and would "continue to do well" together should the incumbent prime minister win the election.
"It is important that Israel has a person they can count on," Trump continued.
Trump expressed some doubt when asked about working with an Israeli leader other than Netanyahu: "Maybe I will, maybe I won't. Who wants to take the chance?"
In a separate report, Axios claimed that some of Netanyahu’s political rivals urged Trump to remain neutral. The decision by the US president to endorse Netanyahu, as he had done previously, indicates that their working relationship appears to remain strong despite previous reports of disagreements, which both leaders appeared to rebut following their White House meeting in July.