Trump’s Support for Netanyahu Wanes Amid Frustrations Over Policy and Election Prospects

In private discussions, former U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies, suggesting Netanyahu is harming his own position. Despite their recent meeting in the Oval Office, Trump has refrained from publicly endorsing Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s October 27 elections, even as Netanyahu’s advisors claim he is leading in polls, a claim contradicted by most surveys.

Trump’s initial strong backing of Netanyahu, including calls for a presidential pardon to end his criminal trial, has cooled amid growing policy divergences, particularly regarding Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza. American officials note that while Trump personally likes Netanyahu, he is displeased with his decisions, especially Netanyahu’s rejection of the peace council’s plan to disarm Hamas. The White House views Netanyahu’s statements as election-driven rather than firm policy and has urged him to restrain military actions in Gaza to facilitate peace efforts.

Netanyahu recently assured Trump’s envoy Jared Kushner he would reduce Gaza strikes and give the peace plan a chance, leading to fewer Israeli military operations and a pullback to agreed positions. Kushner plans to visit Israel soon to discuss Gaza. Meanwhile, opposition leaders like Gadi Eizenkot, Naftali Bennett, and Yair Lapid have sent unofficial messages to the White House urging neutrality in the Israeli elections.

Trump’s popularity in Israel has declined over the past three months due to his Iran deal and restrictions on Israeli military actions. When repeatedly asked about supporting Netanyahu, Trump has avoided direct answers, praising Netanyahu only in past tense. Behind closed doors, Trump has revisited the idea of pardoning Netanyahu but has not publicly addressed it for months.

The upcoming Israeli elections are critical for Trump’s Middle East agenda in his remaining term, including managing the Iran conflict, advancing peace plans for Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. The White House is cautious not to repeat past mistakes that allowed Israeli domestic politics to stall U.S. regional diplomacy.