Trump endorses Netanyahu ahead of Israel's 27 October election
The US President gave Benjamin Netanyahu his "Complete and Total Endorsement" on Truth Social. Netanyahu thanked him; his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, said "only Israelis can choose their leader".
US President Donald Trump endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for re-election in a post on Truth Social at 2:45pm GMT on Sunday 18 October (10:45am Sunday in Washington), eight days before Israel’s general election on 27 October.
“Please let this Letter serve to represent my Complete and Total Endorsement of Bibi Netanyahu in his upcoming Race for Re-Election as Prime Minister of Israel,” Trump wrote, calling him “a Great Warrior Prime Minister”.
Post by Donald J. Trump on Truth Social, 18 October 2026, 2:45pm GMT
In the same post, Trump said Iran had been “systematically destroyed, both Militarily and Financially” and that “unless they change their ways, rapidly, we will soon finish the job”. He added: “If Israel has the wrong Leader, which would be anyone other than Bibi, America will have to do this work ourselves, and I am not inclined to do so.”
Netanyahu thanked Trump on X. “Israel has never had a greater friend in the White House,” he wrote. “Together we will never let Iran’s regime get nuclear weapons.”
Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief and Netanyahu’s main rival, said he “admires” Trump, but “Israel is a democratic country: only Israelis can choose their leader”, France 24 reported.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X: “Last time you wanted to ‘finish the job’, Iran emerged even stronger. Want to try your luck again? Be our guest.”
According to an AP report published by France 24, Trump had withheld an endorsement for months, telling Time magazine this month: “I’m not involved in politics anymore.” The vote is Israel’s first national election since 7 October 2023.
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