Trump Claims Credit for Netanyahu's Election Performance After Endorsement

Writing on his Truth Social platform and speaking to reporters in Texas, Trump asserted that his public backing on October 18, nine days before the election, completely changed the political landscape. Trump stated that Netanyahu performed much better than exit polls suggested, though he noted he had not yet spoken directly with the Prime Minister since the vote. He added that he only desires the best for the Middle East, Israel, and the United States.

Partial election results showed Netanyahu's Likud party emerging as the largest, with his bloc leading but failing to secure a clear governing majority. According to The Times of Israel, Netanyahu's bloc remained five seats short of a 61-seat majority in the 120-seat Knesset, while Arab parties held 16 seats and could play a crucial role in coalition negotiations.

During the campaign, Netanyahu embraced Trump's endorsement to highlight their shared goals of countering Iran and expanding the Abraham Accords. Netanyahu previously stated that he and Trump had a historic opportunity to address the Iranian threat together, declaring in a campaign video that they would finish the job in Iran together.