Trump Renews Endorsement of Netanyahu Ahead of Israeli Election

In his message, Trump detailed past joint achievements, particularly regarding military operations and sanctions against Iran. He claimed that operations like Midnight Hammer and Epic Fury had left Iran without a navy or air force, devastated its economy with 301% inflation, and prevented it from acquiring nuclear weapons. Trump warned that electing anyone other than Netanyahu would require the United States to handle regional challenges alone.

The endorsement followed reports that Netanyahu had spoken with Trump twice to request stronger public backing, which the White House reportedly viewed as a sign of desperation. Netanyahu's Likud party denied that he had recently asked for renewed support. The appeal came amid tight election polls suggesting Netanyahu's bloc might struggle to secure a parliamentary majority.

Netanyahu's political rivals and Israeli officials reacted to the endorsement. Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yesh Atid party, criticized Netanyahu's campaign of fear-mongering but affirmed that Trump is a true friend of Israel who would work with any elected leader. President Isaac Herzog stated that external pressures and interference would not influence his decisions regarding coalition formation.