US President Donald Trump on Sunday endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for re-election, just nine days before Israel is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump announced his “Complete and Total Endorsement” of Netanyahu, expressing his support for the Israeli leader ahead of the upcoming vote.
Trump described Netanyahu as a “Great Warrior Prime Minister” and portrayed him as a key US partner in confronting Iran. He also suggested that the United States might have to take on the task itself if Netanyahu failed to secure re-election.
“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, using Netanyahu’s widely known nickname, Bibi.
Netanyahu subsequently thanked Trump for his support in a post on X, acknowledging the US president’s public endorsement.
In a phone interview with the US news outlet Axios on Sunday, Trump said he had begun planning the endorsement earlier in the week. When asked whether he would be able to work with another Israeli leader if Netanyahu lost the election, Trump responded, “Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. Who wants to take the chance?”
Israel is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections on 27 October. The vote will be the country’s first national election since the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023.
Trump’s endorsement comes as Netanyahu faces a closely contested election. According to Axios, most opinion polls indicate that Netanyahu’s coalition is likely to fall short of the 61 seats needed to secure a parliamentary majority and form a government.
The US president’s public declaration of support places his backing for Netanyahu firmly in the spotlight ahead of the election, with the Israeli prime minister seeking another term amid uncertainty over the composition of the next government.
