Trump Endorses Netanyahu for Israeli Election, Warns Against Other Leaders

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday his "complete and comprehensive" endorsement of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the upcoming Israeli elections. In a message addressed to the "great people of Israel," Trump directly linked the identity of the next prime minister to the future confrontation with Iran. Trump described Netanyahu as a "great warrior prime minister" and a "great partner for peace" in confronting the Islamic Republic, invoking the slogan "Death to Israel, Death to America." He questioned how any nation could survive when such threats are allowed, as they eventually come to pass. Trump stated that Iran has been "systematically destroyed militarily and financially" and warned that if its behavior does not change quickly, "we will finish the job soon." The most prominent sentence in the message served as a warning to Israeli voters: "If Israel has the wrong leader, which is anyone other than Bibi, then America will have to do this job itself, and I am not inclined to do that." Trump praised Netanyahu as "strong, brave, and brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition, including from within Israel itself," adding that he had watched him during "the most difficult times" and that Netanyahu had not broken under pressure but "grown stronger." He concluded by saying, "This is the kind of partner the United States of America demands from Israel, a country that has done so much for it." Trump ended his message in capital letters: "Bibi Netanyahu will never let you down."

Netanyahu quickly responded on X, writing in Hebrew, "Thank you President Trump for the tremendous support and joint work. Together we will complete the mission!" This echoed Trump's pledge to "finish the job" in Iran. Sources informed i24NEWS that Gadi Eisenkot's camp attempted to prevent the message's release, recognizing the significant impact of the U.S. stance on Israeli voters. This endorsement recalls Trump's role in previous Netanyahu campaigns, where Netanyahu utilized Trump's image and decisions, such as moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, as electoral assets. However, this support is explicit and direct, implying that Washington's commitment to confronting Iran is tied to Netanyahu remaining in office. This intervention is expected to spark considerable debate in the Israeli political arena, with some viewing it as an electoral boost for Netanyahu and others as foreign interference in the Israeli voter's decision.