President Donald Trump endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for reelection on Sunday, October 18, 2026. The endorsement comes days before Israel's national election, following months of withheld support amid diverging strategies on Iran and Gaza.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
President Donald Trump endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for reelection on Sunday, October 18, 2026. The announcement, made via social media, comes just days before Israeli voters head to the polls on Oct. 27 for the first national election since the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump described Netanyahu as a "Great Warrior Prime Minister, and an even greater Partner for Peace in combatting the Islamic Republic of Iran." He further stated that Netanyahu had been "Strong, Brave, and Brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition, including that coming from even Israel, itself."
Trump framed the endorsement as a warning regarding U.S. involvement in regional conflicts. "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. He also threatened to "soon finish the job" against Iran "unless they change their ways, rapidly."
Netanyahu responded on X, thanking Trump for the "tremendous support and work together," and adding, "Together we will complete the mission!" His Likud Party released a 35-second video featuring clips of the two leaders together.
The endorsement marks a shift after months of Trump withholding support, a period during which the two leaders' strategies in the Middle East diverged. While Trump and Netanyahu were aligned following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities in 2025, tensions arose during the nearly eight-month war with Iran that began in February 2026.
Trump criticized Israel's decision to attack a key Iranian gas field early in the conflict and, in June, referred to Netanyahu as "crazy." He also expressed being "a little bit perturbed" by Israel's fighting with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, which he said was holding back peace talks with Iran. Additionally, in August, Netanyahu rejected Trump's latest plan to advance a stalled ceasefire in Gaza, pushing back on the U.S. administration's call for Israel to withdraw from territory it controls until Hamas has been disarmed.
The Oct. 27 election is expected to be tight. While Trump remains popular in Israel, many Israelis, including leading commentators, have expressed disappointment over the inconclusive outcome of the Iran war and Trump's ceasefire proposal, which fell short of many of the countries' key goals. Polls suggest no candidate has a clear path to power, as Israel's prime minister is chosen through coalition-building in parliament rather than by direct popular vote.
Trump has a history of endorsing foreign candidates in his second term, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and Polish President Karol Nawrocki. According to the Los Angeles Times, Takaichi and Nawrocki were elected, while Orbán was unsuccessful in his bid for a fifth term. Trump also previously sent a letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog asking him to pardon Netanyahu on corruption charges.
The endorsement highlights the complex relationship between the U.S. and Israel during a period of significant regional instability. By tying U.S. military action against Iran to Netanyahu's political survival, Trump has injected himself directly into the Israeli electoral debate. The outcome of the election will determine whether Netanyahu remains in power amid ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, or if centrist rivals succeed in ushering in a new era of leadership.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
The day's checked news, by email
One short email a day with the top stories. Free, and you can unsubscribe in one click.
Or follow for the latest news:
No comments yet. Start the discussion.
The US Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants to reinstate a 2024 plea deal. The decision clears the way for a military trial scheduled for June 2028.
PoliticsTrending
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social demanding New Mexico change its name to 'New America,' citing prestige and election integrity. This follows previous attempts to rename geographic features and occurs amid midterm election campaigning.