Israel votes Tuesday, Oct. 27, in its first national election since the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7, 2023. President Trump has endorsed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is seeking another term. The vote comes in the seventh month of a war with Iran that has disrupted global energy markets. 1
Trump announced the endorsement on Oct. 18 in a Truth Social post. He wrote of his "Complete and Total Endorsement of Bibi Netanyahu" and said Netanyahu has been "Strong, Brave, and Brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition." 12
What Trump said
Trump credited Netanyahu with joining the United States in launching the war on Iran, which began Feb. 28. 2 Asked whether he could work with a different Israeli leader, Trump told Axios: 2
Maybe I will, maybe I won't. Who wants to take the chance?
Netanyahu then released a video of a phone call with Trump. Trump said on the call, "I think you're going to have a tremendous victory, actually." 3 Netanyahu told American voters: "If you are worried about today's gas prices, think of what will happen if Iran gets nuclear weapons." 2
From Channel GOPTrump says he alone decides who gets paidDonald Trump · 135 plays · captioned, with the source named
A close race, and doubts about the effect
Netanyahu's Likud party faces an opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief. 2 Israel's prime minister is chosen through coalition-building in parliament, not by a direct vote. NBC News reports that polls show no candidate with a clear path to power. 1
The endorsement may not help Netanyahu. NBC reports that Israeli public support for Trump has declined amid disagreements over Iran. 1 David Makovsky of the Washington Institute said it was unclear whether the endorsement would have a "huge impact." 3
Eisenkot responded that "Only Israelis can choose their leader." 3
Democrats object
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, said of Trump and Netanyahu: 4
authoritarians of a feather flock together
Rep. Analilia Mejia, a New Jersey Democrat, said the endorsement "tells us everything we need to know about both of these men." 4
What happens next
Israelis vote Tuesday, and coalition talks will follow. The Israel Hayom newspaper reported that the Trump administration wants Netanyahu to form a government without his far-right allies. U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee denied that report. 3
The Iran ceasefire Trump reached in April is now described as "in tatters." 3 An earlier report said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met Netanyahu in Israel, which fueled speculation that attacks on Iran could resume. The Pentagon declined to comment. 3
That matters for Americans because the war is not abstract. A Pew Research Center poll found about two-thirds of U.S. voters disapprove of Trump's handling of it. 2 Trump has also endorsed candidates in Hungary, Colombia, Argentina, Japan and Honduras, a break with long-standing U.S. practice. 1
The Record
Sources
- NBC News, “Trump endorses Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of pivotal Israeli election” (2026-10-18). nbcnews.com/world/israel/trump-endorses-benjamin-netanyahu-i
- Al Jazeera, “Trump endorses Netanyahu in Israeli legislative elections” (2026-10-18). aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/18/trump-endorses-netanyahu-in-is
- EWN, “Netanyahu basks in Trump endorsement week before election” (2026-10-20). ewn.co.za/2026/10/20/netanyahu-basks-in-trump-endorsement-we
- The Times of Israel, “Analysts and US liberal groups raise eyebrows at Trump endorsement of Netanyahu” (2026-10-20). timesofisrael.com/analysts-and-us-liberal-groups-raise-eyebr
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