Trump endorses Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of pivotal Israeli election

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed his ally Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday for the upcoming Israeli parliamentary election. “Bibi ⁠Netanyahu has been Strong, Brave, and Brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition, including that coming from even Israel, itself,” ⁠Trump wrote in ​a post ⁠on Truth Social. “This is the kind of Partner that ⁠the United States of America is demanding ​of ⁠Israel, a Country ‌for which it has done so much. 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.” Israel ⁠will hold a national election on October 27, its first vote since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023 that shook the country and plunged the Middle East into turmoil, as ‌Israel went to war in Gaza, ​Lebanon and Iran. The election will ‌determine whether Netanyahu ⁠remains in power after one of ⁠the most consequential periods in Israel’s history, or is ‌defeated by ​centrist rivals promising ‌to usher in a ​new era. It is not typical for U.S. presidents to make explicit endorsements in foreign elections, but Trump has done so on a number of occasions.