US President Donald Trump has thrown his full weight behind Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, formally endorsing him ahead of Israel’s parliamentary election on October 27 — the country’s first national vote since the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023 plunged the region into war.
A Reversal After Weeks of Silence
The endorsement marks a sharp turnaround. Earlier this month, Trump pointedly declined to back Netanyahu in a magazine interview, and even spoke warmly of his centrist rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. On Sunday, that changed. In a message addressed to the people of Israel and posted on Truth Social, Trump praised Netanyahu as a strong and brilliant wartime leader and gave him what he called his complete and total endorsement for re-election.
Trump credited Netanyahu with standing alongside the United States in joint strikes on Iran earlier this year, and argued that Washington needs a proven partner in Jerusalem. Netanyahu quickly welcomed the backing, posting that together the two leaders would complete the mission.
A Race With No Clear Winner
Whether the endorsement moves votes is another question. Polls suggest no party has a clear path to a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, and some recent surveys put Netanyahu’s Likud party behind Eisenkot’s Yashar party. Israel’s prime minister is not chosen by direct popular vote — the winner is whoever can build a governing coalition after election day.
Opposition figures responded carefully, expressing respect for the American president while stressing that the decision belongs to Israeli voters. Analysts also note that Israeli public support for Trump has cooled amid disagreements between Washington and Jerusalem over Iran, so the endorsement is far from guaranteed to shift the race.
What Happens Next
Israelis vote on October 27. The result will decide whether Netanyahu — Israel’s longest-serving prime minister — stays in power after one of the most consequential periods in the country’s history, or whether voters hand power to centrist rivals promising a new era. Either way, Trump’s intervention has made the final week of the campaign impossible to ignore.
