Trump Backs Netanyahu Nine Days Before Israel's Vote: What to Know
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President Trump on Sunday endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for reelection, nine days before Israelis vote on Oct. 27. He also suggested that the United States might not act further against Iran if Netanyahu loses, according to reports by CBS News and Axios.
Here is what the endorsement says and why it is drawing attention.
What did Trump say about Netanyahu?
Trump posted the endorsement on Truth Social. CBS News reported that he praised Netanyahu as a wartime leader and a strong partner in confronting Iran, and said the prime minister had thrived despite heavy opposition, including from within Israel. According to Axios, Trump described Netanyahu as the kind of partner the U.S. demands of Israel and called the post a "Complete and Total Endorsement."
How did Netanyahu respond?
Netanyahu thanked Trump on X for his support and their joint work, and said they would complete the mission together, CBS News reported. His Likud Party shared a 35-second video of clips showing the two leaders together.
In a separate video, Netanyahu said he was honored and humbled, and that Israel has never had a greater friend in the White House. He also addressed Americans directly. According to CBS News, he urged those worried about gas prices to consider what would happen if Iran obtained nuclear weapons. He claimed prices would fall if Iran's government disappeared, and said that would happen only under Trump.
What did Trump say about Iran?
Trump repeated a threat to "soon finish the job" against Iran unless it changes course quickly, CBS News reported. He then linked that threat to the Israeli election. He wrote that if Israel chose anyone other than Netanyahu, the U.S. would have to handle the Iran issue itself, and that he was "not inclined" to do so.
Why does it matter?
Axios said the endorsement could help Netanyahu at a critical moment. Most polls show his coalition falling short of the 61 seats needed to form a government. CBS News described the endorsement as a coveted boost because Trump remains popular in Israel.
CBS News also said it was not immediately clear how much the endorsement would change a race expected to be tight. Many Israelis, including leading commentators, have expressed disappointment over the inconclusive result of the war with Iran. They have also criticized Trump's ceasefire proposal, which fell short of many of the key goals the two countries set when they launched the war together in February.
For U.S. readers, the post ties a possible American military decision on Iran to the result of a foreign election. Netanyahu, for his part, framed Iran policy as a gas-price issue for Americans. Both are claims made by the leaders themselves.
What is the backdrop to the election?
CBS News said Netanyahu leads the most nationalist and far-right government in Israel's history. It faces criticism at home over security failures and abroad over the treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. CBS News noted that some senior officials in the government are settlers themselves. The vote will be Israel's first national election since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.
Have Trump and Netanyahu always been aligned?
Not entirely. CBS News reported that Trump withheld his endorsement for months as the two leaders' strategies in the Middle East diverged. They have been close allies and seemed more closely aligned after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities in 2025. Over the nearly eight-month war with Iran this year, however, they disagreed at times, according to CBS News.
What happens next?
Israelis vote on Oct. 27. Whether Netanyahu's coalition can reach the 61 seats needed to form a government will decide if he stays in office.
