Trump endorses Netanyahu for Israel re-election — SkimNews
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- Donald Trump endorsed Benjamin Netanyahu for Israel's October 27 parliamentary election via Truth Social, calling him a "Great Warrior Prime Minister" and "Strong, Brave, and Brilliant" who grew stronger under political pressure
- Trump warned Israel that electing "anyone other than Bibi" would force the United States to confront Iran on its own, saying he was "not inclined to do so" — a leverage threat tied directly to the ongoing military campaign against Iran
- Netanyahu thanked Trump in a video message on X, declaring "Israel has never had a greater friend in the White House" and pledging, "Together, we will never let Iran's regime get nuclear weapons"
- Trump's endorsement may not translate into electoral advantage, as public support for the US president has eroded in Israel amid disagreements between the two governments over Iran, with opinion polls showing no candidate has a clear path to power
- The October 27 election will be Israel's first national vote since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, with coalition-building in parliament — not direct popular vote — determining who becomes prime minister
- Trump has broken with longstanding US tradition by publicly endorsing foreign candidates in Hungary, Colombia, Argentina, Japan, and Honduras, with Netanyahu becoming the latest on that list
Why it matters: Trump's conditional threat — that the US would handle Iran alone if Netanyahu loses — reframes an endorsement as leverage, giving Netanyahu a campaign asset while signaling to Israeli voters that the US-Israel confrontation of Iran is politically contingent. With no candidate polling a clear majority, the October 27 vote could extend Netanyahu's tenure or hand power to centrist rivals who have promised a new era.
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