Trump Questions Netanyahu on Polls Amid Growing Political Distance and Election Pressure

During a meeting at the White House two weeks ago, U.S. President Donald Trump directly asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about his standing in the polls ahead of the October 27 elections. Netanyahu hesitated, prompting an aide to quickly intervene, assuring Trump that Netanyahu was winning. However, most polls indicate Netanyahu is not leading, a fact well known to Trump and his advisors. Despite repeated questions from reporters, Trump has yet to publicly endorse Netanyahu.

The political gap between the two leaders has widened over the past three months, particularly regarding Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza. Trump reportedly admires Netanyahu personally but is frustrated with his decisions and policies, calling him "his own worst enemy." This tension intensified after Netanyahu publicly rejected the peace council's plan to disarm Hamas, a move the White House viewed as election politics rather than official policy. Netanyahu has since promised Jared Kushner, Trump’s envoy, to give the peace plan a chance and reduce military strikes in Gaza to facilitate a ceasefire process.

With only 75 days left until the election, time is running out for Netanyahu to secure Trump’s support. Some opposition figures, including Gadi Eizenkot, Naftali Bennett, and Yair Lapid, have privately urged Trump to remain neutral. Trump’s popularity in Israel has declined recently due to his Iran deal and restrictions on Israeli military actions. Although Trump has praised Netanyahu as an "excellent wartime prime minister," he has avoided explicit public support and has not mentioned a potential pardon for Netanyahu in months.

The Israeli elections are crucial for Trump’s Middle East agenda during his remaining two years in office, especially amid the ongoing Iran crisis. Trump aims to advance his peace plan for Gaza, progress Israeli-Lebanese negotiations, finalize a security agreement with Syria, and broker a historic peace deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The White House is determined not to repeat past mistakes that allowed Israeli domestic politics to stall U.S. diplomatic efforts in the region.