U.S. President Donald Trump has endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for re-election, throwing his support behind the long-serving leader ahead of Israel’s Oct. 27 parliamentary election.
Trump praised Netanyahu’s leadership and role in the ongoing conflict with Iran, describing him as a strong ally and a partner in pursuing peace.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump described Netanyahu as a “great warrior prime minister”, commending his resilience despite mounting domestic and international opposition.
“Bibi Netanyahu has been Strong, Brave, and Brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition, including that coming from even Israel, itself,” Trump wrote.
Addressing the Israeli electorate, he added: “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 credited Netanyahu with joining the United States in launching strikes against Iran in February. The conflict, now in its seventh month, has disrupted global energy markets, damaged critical infrastructure and destabilised economies across the Middle East.
Netanyahu responded by thanking Trump on X, referring to him as his “dear friend” and declaring: “Together we will complete the mission!”
However, the endorsement may not significantly improve Netanyahu’s electoral prospects or those of his right-wing Likud party, amid declining Israeli public support for Trump and disagreements between Washington and Tel Aviv over Iran.
Opinion polls suggest that no party has a clear path to forming the next government. Israel’s prime minister is determined through coalition-building in parliament rather than a direct popular vote.
The Oct. 27 election will be Israel’s first since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza and contributed to wider regional conflicts involving Lebanon and Iran.
The outcome could determine whether Netanyahu retains power after one of the most turbulent periods in Israel’s history or loses to centrist rivals promising a change in leadership.
Endorsement Could Influence Voters
Analysts say Trump’s backing could help Netanyahu regain support among undecided voters, although its overall impact remains uncertain.
Tamar Hermann, a senior research fellow at the non-partisan Israel Democracy Institute in Jerusalem, said the endorsement might persuade some voters who were wavering in their support for Netanyahu but was unlikely to generate widespread backing.
Aaron David Miller, an analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, said the endorsement could benefit Netanyahu in a closely contested election.
“In an election this close, it couldn’t hurt him, and it might help,” Miller said.
Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist coalition is projected to lose its parliamentary majority, according to opinion polls. However, opposition parties could also struggle to secure enough support to form a government, potentially leading to a caretaker administration and another election.
Miller said Trump had previously refrained from endorsing Netanyahu, possibly to retain leverage over issues such as Gaza and Lebanon.
He added that Trump ultimately appeared to have sided with a leader he considered strong and unfairly targeted.
Trump’s relationship with Netanyahu has been close but occasionally strained, with the US president previously criticising the Israeli leader both publicly and privately.
The conflict with Iran has also proved unpopular among Americans ahead of the Nov. 3 congressional elections, while support for Israel in the United States has declined amid the war and Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
Trump has also departed from longstanding US practice by endorsing political candidates in several foreign elections, including those in Hungary, Colombia, Argentina, Japan and Honduras.
