Trump Withheld Endorsement of Netanyahu Until Polls Showed Right-Wing Gains

U.S. President Donald Trump delayed publicly endorsing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the Knesset elections due to uncertainty about Netanyahu's victory. According to political sources cited by The Jerusalem Post and Channel 9, Trump shifted his stance after receiving results from private polls indicating a strengthening of the right-wing bloc. Washington closely monitored Netanyahu's political ratings and his chances of remaining in power. The decisive factor, it is claimed, was internal polling data suggesting that the Likud party and its potential allies were gaining ground. Some polls showed the right-wing bloc and the opposition in a near-tie, while others indicated an advantage for Netanyahu's supporters. Sources suggest Trump was hesitant to repeat a past experience with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whom he had supported only for Orban to lose the election. This experience reportedly made the U.S. president more cautious about endorsing foreign leaders. Once more favorable forecasts for Netanyahu emerged, Trump decided to publicly back him. However, there is no official confirmation that private polls were the sole basis for this decision. Trump's endorsement came during the final stage of the election campaign. The Knesset elections are scheduled for October 27, with Netanyahu's primary goal being to form a right-wing majority of at least 61 seats. In parallel, Netanyahu held a lengthy press conference on October 18, his first in over a year, focusing significantly on security, U.S. relations, and future diplomatic initiatives. A central theme was Iran, with Netanyahu asserting Israel's right to act independently to prevent a nuclear threat. He stated that he had previously informed Trump of Israeli plans for strikes against Iran and invited U.S. participation, rather than seeking permission. Netanyahu stressed that Israel would act alone if necessary. He also highlighted a limited window for diplomatic and security initiatives in the next two years, anticipating potential changes in U.S. policy after a change in administration. Consequently, Netanyahu intends to foster relationships beyond the U.S. to reduce Israel's dependence on American political shifts. Regarding Turkey, Netanyahu acknowledged differing views with Trump on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's policies, stating Israel had thwarted Turkish attempts to expand military presence in Syria while aiming to avoid direct conflict with Ankara.