Trump withholds backing for Netanyahu before crucial Israel election
US President Donald Trump has declined to say whether he wants Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to win another term when Israelis vote on October 27. In an interview with Time magazine published on Thursday, Trump repeatedly avoided directly backing Netanyahu, even though the Israeli leader has long presented his close relationship with Trump as a political asset.
The absence of an endorsement is a blow for Netanyahu and his Likud party at a key moment. The vote will be Israel's first national election since the 2023 Hamas attack, and it comes as Netanyahu faces political pressure at home and strains in his ties with Trump despite years of close cooperation.
Asked whether Israelis should return Netanyahu to office, Trump said, "I can only say that I'm not involved in politics anymore." The remark stood out because Trump is actively campaigning for Republicans ahead of the November midterm elections and has publicly used his influence in politics abroad as well. He has endorsed figures including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in his unsuccessful bid for a fifth term, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Polish President Karol Nawrocki and several Latin American leaders.
Trump's cautious line marks a contrast with his stronger displays of support for Netanyahu in the past. During the 2019 campaign, Netanyahu used large billboards showing himself with Trump and the message, "Netanyahu. In Another League." Trump also drew attention to that campaign advertisement on his own social media accounts.
In the Time interview, Trump instead highlighted his own record on Israel while also suggesting that Netanyahu should not be counted out. He said, "Well, people have written off Bibi many, many times, just like they've written off me many, many times," and added, "I wouldn't underestimate Bibi." On Netanyahu's main rival, centrist Gadi Eisenkot, Trump said, "I don't hear bad things about him." In June, before Eisenkot announced his candidacy, Trump had said he would "most likely" endorse Netanyahu, but wanted to first see who would challenge him.
Netanyahu is seeking re-election while dealing with several pressures. He is on trial in a long-running corruption case, faced mass protests in 2023 over plans to restructure Israel's judiciary, and has also faced criticism over the intelligence and security failures before the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Last November, Trump wrote to Israeli President Isaac Herzog asking him to pardon Netanyahu in the corruption case and described him as "a formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister."
Trump remains popular in Israel. During his first term, he gave strong backing to Israel's claims over territory captured in war, including by moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem. That support continued in his second term, with Trump backing Israel's actions in Gaza and joining Israel in bombing Iran. Netanyahu has frequently visited the White House and has often spoken to Trump by phone. The relationship has also helped Netanyahu domestically, as he has repeatedly sought to link himself to Trump to improve his standing at home.
Still, the relationship has come under strain during the seven-month war with Iran. Trump criticised Israel for striking a key Iranian gas field in the early weeks of the conflict. In June, he called Netanyahu "crazy" and said he was "a little bit perturbed" because Israel's fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon was slowing peace talks with Iran.
In August, Netanyahu also rejected Trump's latest proposal aimed at reviving the stalled Gaza ceasefire, pushing back against the US call for Israel to withdraw from territory it holds in Gaza before Hamas is disarmed. The move risked angering Trump, whom Netanyahu has repeatedly called "the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House." At the same time, accepting Trump's plan could have been politically dangerous for Netanyahu, with the country still traumatised by the October 7 attack and his nationalist support base opposed to concessions to the Palestinians. Trump's refusal to openly back Netanyahu now underlines both the value and the limits of their alliance as Israel heads into a closely watched election.
