Trump: “I don’t know whether Netanyahu wants to keep running in elections”; PM: I will run

U.S. President Donald Trump was asked in an interview about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political future and wondered, “Does he even want to continue?” The remarks prompted a response from the prime minister. Daphne Liel, N12 Published: 10.06.26, 07:33 | Updated: 10.06.26, 11:25

U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, archive | Photo: AP, AP

Trump said in an interview on ABC that it is an open question whether Netanyahu will run again. The U.S. president: “It is an open question whether Netanyahu will run again.” On the war with Iran, he again said he believes “we will win in a very short time.”

U.S. President Donald Trump commented last night, Tuesday, on the political future of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an interview with ABC. Trump cast doubt on Netanyahu’s intention to run for the post again and questioned whether he wants to continue leading the country. Netanyahu later responded to Trump’s remarks through a statement from Likud and announced that he would run in the elections.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump, archive | Photo: Avi Ohayon, Government Press Office

Trump’s full remarks

“It is an open question whether Netanyahu wants to continue running in elections,” Trump said in the interview. “I don’t know, he’s had an amazing career. Does he want to continue? Because, you know, he is prime minister during a war.” Trump added and asked: “Does he even want to continue?”

Later in his remarks, Trump also referred to the campaign with Iran and repeated that Washington is close to a decision. “We will win the war in a very short time, one way or another,” the president said.

Recently, it appears that relations between Trump and Netanyahu have become strained against the backdrop of the war in Iran. Last night we reported on “the main edition” that during the “day of blows” at the start of the week with Iran, Trump warned Netanyahu that he “could find himself alone in the fight.” Last week we also revealed the American president’s “shouting call” with the prime minister. Trump was furious at Netanyahu and said that without his efforts, “he would already be in prison.” Senior American officials told News 12 that this was “one of the toughest conversations between the two since Trump returned to the White House.”