US President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bid for re-election, praising his leadership and warning that Washington could be left to confront Iran without Israel’s support if another leader takes office.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, October 18, Trump described Netanyahu as a “Great Warrior Prime Minister” and a key partner in the US campaign against Iran. The endorsement came nine days before Israel’s parliamentary election, scheduled for October 27.
“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,” Trump wrote, referring to the effort against Iran.
He also praised Netanyahu for standing firm amid domestic opposition and international pressure, saying the Israeli leader had grown stronger despite the challenges facing him.
Trump concluded his message by declaring his “Complete and Total Endorsement” of Netanyahu’s re-election campaign and assuring Israeli voters that the prime minister would not let them down.
Netanyahu thanks Trump for support
Netanyahu responded on X, thanking Trump for his support and their cooperation.
“Thank you, President Trump, for the tremendous support and the joint work together. Together we will complete the mission!” Netanyahu wrote.
The Israeli prime minister also shared a translation of Trump’s message and posted an image featuring the Israeli and US flags alongside a heart symbol.
A shift from Trump’s earlier position
The endorsement marked a change from Trump’s public position just days earlier. In an interview with Newsmax on Thursday, he had said he had not decided whether to support any candidate in Israel’s election.
His latest statement places him firmly behind Netanyahu at a crucial stage of the campaign, although the impact on voters remains uncertain. Trump had withheld an explicit endorsement for months amid differences between the two leaders over strategy in the Middle East.
According to The Jerusalem Post, some of Trump’s advisers and allies had expressed reservations about publicly endorsing Netanyahu. The report also noted the involvement of pollster John McLaughlin, who has worked with both Trump and Netanyahu. The precise influence of those discussions on Trump’s decision remains unclear.
Israeli ministers welcome endorsement
Several senior members of Netanyahu’s government welcomed Trump’s declaration of support.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism party, praised the US president as a major friend of Israel and highlighted the importance of security cooperation between the two countries.
Defence Minister Israel Katz also welcomed the endorsement, saying coordination between the two governments and their militaries was important to achieving the remaining objectives of the campaign against Iran.
Election amid regional conflict
The October 27 vote will be Israel’s first national election since the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023. The country has since experienced prolonged conflict and major security challenges, while the confrontation with Iran has become a central issue in the relationship between Washington and Jerusalem.
Trump’s intervention underscores the importance he places on Netanyahu’s leadership in the campaign against Iran. Whether the endorsement changes the course of Israel’s election, however, will be decided by Israeli voters.
