Trump Claims Credit for Netanyahu's Election Performance After Endorsement

Trump's comments came as initial election results showed a very close contest. With approximately 60% of the votes counted, Netanyahu's Likud emerged as the largest party, and his bloc led with 56 seats, short of the 61-seat majority needed in the 120-seat Knesset. The opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot secured 48 seats, while Arab parties held 16 seats, potentially playing a crucial role in coalition formation.

Trump had formally endorsed Netanyahu on October 18, nine days before the election, calling him a great partner to confront Iran. Netanyahu embraced the endorsement in his campaign, highlighting a historic opportunity to address the Iranian threat and expand normalization agreements. Trump stated his intervention was motivated by the best interests of Israel, the United States, and the Middle East.