Trump endorses Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s Oct. 27 election
In short
President Donald Trump endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for reelection ahead of Israel’s Oct. 27 vote. Netanyahu thanked him for the support, while reports said the impact on the expected tight race was unclear.
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President Donald Trump backed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reelection bid ahead of Israel’s Oct. 27 election, issuing an endorsement on Truth Social. Trump praised Netanyahu as a partner in confronting Iran and said any other Israeli leader would be the wrong choice. In a statement on X, Netanyahu thanked Trump for his support and their work together, saying they would complete their mission together. His Likud Party accompanied the statement with a 35-second video showing the leaders together and Trump praising Netanyahu. [ 1 , 2 , 7 , 8 , 14 ]
The endorsement came late in a campaign that reports described as a tight race. Axios said most polls showed Netanyahu’s coalition falling short of the 61 seats needed to form a government. CBS News and Associated Press coverage said Trump’s popularity in Israel made his backing valuable to Netanyahu, but that he had withheld it for months as their strategies in the Middle East diverged. Associated Press reported that Netanyahu had promoted his close relationship with Trump as a reason to keep him in power. [ 1 , 7 , 8 , 14 ]
The effect of the endorsement was not immediately clear, CBS News and Associated Press coverage reported. In his post, Trump again threatened further action against Iran unless it changed course, while saying he was not inclined to carry out the work alone if Netanyahu lost. The Oct. 27 vote will be Israel’s first national election since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, according to Associated Press coverage. The supplied accounts differ on the endorsement’s weekday: most call it Sunday, while the New York Post says Friday. [ 1 , 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 14 ]
Why it matters
Axios reported that most polls showed Netanyahu’s coalition falling short of the 61 seats needed to form a government. CBS News and Associated Press coverage described Trump’s backing as sought-after support that he had withheld for months as the leaders’ regional strategies diverged.
Key facts
- Trump endorsed Netanyahu for reelection in a Truth Social post. [ 1 , 2 , 6 , 7 ]
- Israel’s election is scheduled for Oct. 27. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 14 ]
- Netanyahu thanked Trump for his support in a statement on X. [ 7 , 8 , 14 ]
- Axios reported that most polls showed Netanyahu’s coalition short of the 61 seats needed to form a government. [ 1 ]
- Trump praised Netanyahu as a partner against Iran. [ 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 14 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The endorsement’s effect on the election result. CBS News and Associated Press coverage said its impact on the expected tight race was not immediately clear.
- The reports disagree on the endorsement’s weekday. Axios, The New York Times, The Hill, CBS News and Associated Press coverage say Sunday; the New York Post says Friday.