Trump endorses Netanyahu in Israeli legislative elections

In a social media post ahead of Israel’s October 27 election, Trump calls Netanyahu a ‘Strong, Brave, and Brilliant’ leader. Save Share United States President Donald Trump has issued an endorsement of Israel’s incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing a close race in parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27. In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump praised the Israeli leader for being an ally of the US in its war on Iran. He added that he was giving his “Complete and Total Endorsement” to Netanyahu. “BIBI NETANYAHU WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” Trump wrote. The US president’s backing comes nine days before the Israeli election — and afterspeculationthat it might not come at all. Trump had refused to endorse Netanyahu earlier this month, when asked repeatedly about the Israeli leader’s job performance in an interview with Time magazine. Instead, when pressed by his interviewer, Trumpavoidedthe subject, shifting the focus instead to his own popularity or security in the Middle East. The two leaders have met more than a half dozen times since January 2025, but there have been reports of disagreements, including over the war against Iran and other conflicts. In June, Trump acknowledged calling Netanyahu “f***ing crazy” in a phone conversation where he expressed frustration about Israel’s attacks on Lebanon. Trump had reportedly asked Netanyahu not to take further action in Lebanon, in an apparent attempt to preserve a short-lived April ceasefire with Iran. The two leaders had jointly launched a war against Iran on February 28, but the conflict has cost Trump domestic support. The war has upended the global oil and gas supply, with no clear end in sight. A Pew Research Center poll found this month that roughly two-thirds of US voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of the war, which has driven up consumer fuel prices and raised concerns about draining military stockpiles. Trump’s Republican Party is facinga critical midterm electionon November 3 that will decide whether it maintains control of the US Congress, as well as other key state and local offices. Experts have speculated that Trump’s prior reticence to endorse Netanyahu may have come from public perception that Israel may have coaxed the US into the war. Netanyahu’s Likud Party and its far-right coalition are also facing the prospect oflosing the October contestto anoppositionbloc led by Yashar party head Gadi Eisenkot....