President Donald Trump on Sunday endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is campaigning to retain his seat, arguing that his leadership was critical to destroying the threat from Iran.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Netanyahu has been a Great Warrior Prime Minister, and an even greater Partner for Peace in combatting the Islamic Republic of Iran, with its 51 year old chant, “Death to Israel, Death to America!”
Iran will be able to make good on its threat, unless it is destroyed militarily and financially, Trump wrote.
Alluding to a possible resumption of the two-month war that was paused in April, Trump said that unless Iran changes its ways, “we will soon finish the job,” but only if Netanyahu is in charge.
“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,” Trump wrote.
He published his post with nine days to go until Israelis head to the polls on Oct. 27 to elect a prime minister and parliament. Netanyahu has been trailing in the polls to former IDF Chief-of-Staff Gadi Eisenkot.
Netanyahu’s tight alliance with Trump has often been one of the cornerstones of his campaigns. Netanyahu has argued that his diplomatic leadership is vital to retaining the support of the U.S. government.
Trump, until Sunday, had held off on offering his clear backing. But in his Truth Social post, Trump wrote that Netanyahu was the kind of “Partner that the United States of America is demanding of Israel, a Country for which it has done so much.”
He ended by stressing, “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. BIBI NETANYAHU WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
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