Trump backs Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s October 27 vote

President Donald Trump on Sunday endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for reelection, saying on social media that Netanyahu “has been a Great Warrior Prime Minister, and an even greater Partner for Peace in combatting the Islamic Republic of Iran,” CBS News reports.

The endorsement is a coveted boost because of Trump’s popularity in Israel, but he withheld it for months as their strategies in the Middle East diverged.

“Bibi Netanyahu has been Strong, Brave, and Brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition, including that coming from even Israel, itself. Despite all of that, he has endured and, in fact, he has thrived!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Netanyahu thanked Trump on X for his “tremendous support and the joint work.” He added: “Together we will complete the mission!” In a separate video, he said he was “honored and humbled” and that there has “never been a greater friend of Israel in the White House.”

Trump again threatened to “soon finish the job” against Iran “unless they change their ways, rapidly.” But he said: “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.”

Israelis vote on October 27, in the first national elections since the 2023 Hamas attack. The race is expected to be tight. Netanyahu’s government, the most nationalist and far-right in Israel’s history, faces domestic criticism over security failures. Many Israelis have also voiced disappointment over the inconclusive outcome of the nearly eight-month Iran war and Trump’s ceasefire proposal.