Trump Endorses Netanyahu Nine Days Before Israel's Election, Ties His Backing to Iran

US President Donald Trump on Sunday gave Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu his "Complete and Total Endorsement" for the country's October 27 general election, ending months in which he had pointedly declined to pick a side. The move, posted on Truth Social nine days before polling, explicitly links Netanyahu's survival to Washington's approach to Iran.

What Trump said

In the post, Trump described Netanyahu as a "Great Warrior Prime Minister" and a strong partner in the confrontation with Iran. The most consequential line was a warning rather than a compliment: if Israel chose any leader other than Netanyahu, Trump wrote, the United States would have to carry out the work against Iran on its own, and he was not inclined to do so.

Speaking to Axios by phone later on Sunday, Trump said he had always planned to endorse Netanyahu but had not wanted to do it too early. Asked whether he could work with a different Israeli prime minister, he left the door only half open, suggesting there was no reason to take the risk.

Netanyahu thanked Trump on X and said the two would complete the mission together.

A race Netanyahu is not winning comfortably

The endorsement lands in a campaign where Netanyahu is fighting for political survival. This is Israel's first national vote since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, and most polls show his coalition falling short of the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-member Knesset. Former army chief Gadi Eisenkot has emerged as the main challenger, and several recent surveys have put his party ahead, though none shows any bloc with a clear path to a majority.

Eisenkot responded carefully, telling Israel's Channel 12 that he respected the US president and appreciated what he had done for Israel, but that the election was a domestic matter to be decided only by Israeli citizens.

Why the timing raises eyebrows

Trump's relationship with Netanyahu has been strained in recent months over the handling of Iran and Gaza. According to Axios, Trump has privately blamed Netanyahu for Israel's failure to prevent the October 7 attacks and some of his advisers believed US goals in the region would be better served by a different Israeli government. Some of Netanyahu's opponents had publicly urged Washington to stay neutral.

There is also a security dimension. Netanyahu and Trump reportedly discussed a major new operation against Iran around two weeks ago, before Trump decided to hold off until after the US midterm elections on November 3. His endorsement message hinted that the job would be finished soon, which many readers will take as a signal that military action could resume after both votes.

What to watch

Whether a US president's backing moves Israeli voters is an open question. Public opinion of Trump in Israel has softened amid disagreements over Iran policy, and open foreign involvement in an election can backfire with undecided voters. For Netanyahu, the immediate value is likely to be in consolidating right-wing supporters who had drifted to other parties.

For markets, including India's, the bigger issue is the Iran signal. With Brent crude closing last week close to $110 a barrel, any hint of a renewed Israel-US campaign against Iran feeds directly into oil risk premiums, shipping costs and India's import bill.

This is an original summary based on public reporting. See our editorial policy for how we source, write, and correct our stories.