US President Donald Trump on Sunday endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for re-election, nine days ahead of Israel's parliamentary elections.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump announced his “Complete and Total Endorsement” of Netanyahu in the upcoming vote.
Describing Netanyahu as a “Great Warrior Prime Minister” and a key US partner in confronting Iran, Trump said Washington might have to handle the task itself if the Israeli leader failed to win re-election.
“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,” Trump wrote.
Netanyahu thanked Trump for his backing in a post on X.
In a phone interview with US news outlet Axios on Sunday, Trump said he had started planning the endorsement earlier in the week.
Asked whether he could work with another Israeli leader, Trump said, “Maybe I will, maybe I won't. Who wants to take the chance?”
Israel is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections on October 27, marking the country's first national vote since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.
Trump's endorsement comes as Netanyahu faces a closely contested election, with most opinion polls indicating that his coalition is likely to fall short of the 61 seats required to form a government, according to Axios.