President Donald Trump on Sunday endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his upcoming reelection bid, offering high praise for the veteran leader on social media while urging Israeli voters to return him to power.
In a post published to Truth Social, Trump commended Netanyahu for his steadfast support of the United States, specifically highlighting the ongoing conflict with Iran. The U.S. president labeled Netanyahu “a Great Warrior Prime Minister, and an even greater Partner for Peace in combatting the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
“Bibi Netanyahu has been Strong, Brave, and Brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition, including that coming from even Israel, itself,” Trump wrote. “Despite all of that, he has endured and, in fact, he has thrived! I have watched Bibi under the most trying of times. Normal men or women in such situations would have wilted under the pressure — But Bibi did not wilt, he actually got stronger, and maintains that same Strength today.”
Trump concluded his endorsement with capital-letter emphasis, writing, “BIBI NETANYAHU WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
Netanyahu responded swiftly on Sunday through a social media post, thanking Trump for his “tremendous support” and vowing that “together we will complete the mission!”
The endorsement arrives just nine days before Israeli citizens head to the polls on October 27 to decide whether to reelect Netanyahu. The timing marks a sharp pivot from just days prior, when Trump had declined to endorse any candidate during an interview with Newsmax. Netanyahu has served as prime minister continuously since 2022, following earlier tenures from 1996 to 1999 and from 2009 to 2021.
The relationship between the two leaders has experienced notable strains in recent months as regional conflicts have persisted. Friction has emerged between the Israeli government and the Trump administration over the broader war, the ongoing conflict in Gaza, and rising settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. In August, Netanyahu formally rejected Trump’s proposed peace plan for Gaza. Earlier, in June, Trump referred to Netanyahu as “crazy,” and the U.S. president has repeatedly voiced frustration over Israeli military actions against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, asserting that those strikes have hindered diplomatic talks with Iran.
Despite these diplomatic frictions, Trump suggested on Sunday that Israel remains vital to U.S. strategic objectives in the region, warning that “unless they change their ways, rapidly, we will soon finish the job.”
“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 added.
While the endorsement highlights ongoing geopolitical alignments, it is not without precedent. Netanyahu heavily praised Trump during an appearance at the United Nations last month, and past Israeli election cycles have frequently featured campaign billboards showcasing the two leaders together. In January 2013, during an earlier reelection campaign, Trump appeared in a promotional video telling Israeli voters that Netanyahu is a “winner” and “highly respected.”
Netanyahu faces a significant challenge in this election cycle from Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, a former chief of the general staff of the Israel Defense Forces. Eisenkot has emerged as a sharp critic of the incumbent prime minister, calling for a comprehensive and full investigation into the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Eisenkot has accused Netanyahu of attempting to bury responsibility for the tragedy and refusing to investigate its causes in order to prevent future security failures. These criticisms center heavily on reports that Netanyahu’s government disregarded credible intelligence warnings prior to the assault.
The upcoming October 27 vote marks the first national election in Israel since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack fundamentally altered the nation’s political and security landscape.
