Trump Backs Netanyahu Ahead of Israel's October 27 Election

With Israel's national election approaching on October 27, 2026, US President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, linking the Israeli leader's political future to Washington's continued military campaign against Iran. The endorsement, announced Sunday, October 18, gives Netanyahu support from a powerful ally as his Likud Party faces a closely contested race.

According to NPR, the election is Israel's first national vote since Hamas attacked the country on October 7, 2023. Trump's backing came after months of withholding an endorsement, during which disagreements over Iran and Gaza strained the relationship between the two leaders.

Trump renewed his warning that the United States could soon conclude its campaign against Iran if Tehran changed its behavior, while suggesting Netanyahu's defeat could affect his willingness to continue the operation.

In his social media post, Trump said he would soon finish the job against Iran.

He qualified the threat by saying this could happen unless they change their ways, rapidly, according to his statement.

Trump also connected the outcome of Israel's election to his commitment to the conflict, declaring, 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, the president said.

He praised Netanyahu as Strong, Brave, and Brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition, including that coming from even Israel, itself.

The endorsement follows months of uncertainty about Trump's position. In an interview with Time magazine published earlier in October, Trump had said, I'm not involved in politics anymore, when asked whether he would support Netanyahu, despite his history of endorsing candidates abroad.

Trump previously backed Netanyahu in Israeli elections and wrote to Israeli President Isaac Herzog in November seeking a pardon for the prime minister over corruption charges. However, the two leaders have clashed over the Iran war and efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.

Trump criticized Israel's attack on a major Iranian gas field early in the conflict and called Netanyahu crazy.

He also said he was a little bit perturbed because Israel's fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon was obstructing peace negotiations with Iran. In August, Netanyahu rejected a US proposal for a Gaza ceasefire that called for Israeli forces to withdraw from territory they controlled until Hamas had been disarmed, according to NPR.

Netanyahu welcomed the endorsement in a statement published in Hebrew on X, thanking the US president for his support and cooperation.

Thank you, President Trump, for the tremendous support and work together, Netanyahu said in the statement.

He added, Together we will complete the mission!

Likud accompanied the statement with a 35-second video featuring footage of the two leaders together and clips of Trump praising Netanyahu. The effect of the endorsement on Israeli voters remains uncertain, particularly amid dissatisfaction with the outcome of the Iran war and concerns about Washington's attempts to limit further military escalation.

US Vice President JD Vance, meanwhile, declined to follow Trump in endorsing Netanyahu. Speaking in an interview with journalist Mark Halperin on Monday, October 19, Vance said he would remain outside Israel's electoral contest and concentrate on American politics.

I'm not anti-endorsing him. I'm not pro-endorsing him. I'm not getting involved in Israeli elections, Vance said.

Vance explained that his political attention remained focused on elections in the United States rather than on choosing a foreign leader.

I endorse American candidates and that's where I'm focused on is the midterms, he added.

Al Jazeera reported that Vance has become associated with growing Republican unease over Washington's unconditional support for Israel, particularly as the war with Iran increases costs for American consumers. Although Vance has supported continued US assistance to Israel, his position has faced skepticism from some Jewish Republicans.

In June, amid disagreements over a proposed ceasefire with Iran, Vance warned Israel against relying solely on military force to address security concerns.

You can't just kill your way out of solving every single national security problem that you have Vance said.

He also cautioned Netanyahu's cabinet against alienating Trump, describing the president as the only powerful ally Israel had left.

The political implications extend beyond the relationship between the two governments. Haaretz reported that Trump's decision to tie continued US action against Iran to Netanyahu's reelection has intensified criticism from those who argue that the Israeli prime minister drew Washington into the conflict.

Polling cited by Al Jazeera indicated that the Yashar party was leading Likud ahead of the October 27 vote. Its leader, former Israeli military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, has said he intends to build an opposition bloc capable of forming a government.

Trump's endorsement therefore arrives as Netanyahu faces both domestic electoral pressure and uncertainty over the future of the US-Israeli campaign against Iran. Voters are scheduled to cast their ballots on October 27, with the election expected to be closely contested.