Trump recommends voting for Netanyahu

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Lerato Khumalo

Tense relationship

Trump recommends voting for Netanyahu

Updated 10/18/2026 – 8:54 p.mReading time: 2 minutes

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US President Donald Trump (r.) recommends the election of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (l.). (archive image) (Source: Alex Brandon/AP/dpa/dpa-bilder)

Reporters repeatedly asked US President Trump whether he would welcome the re-election of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Almost a week and a half before the election, he gives an answer.

US President Donald Trump has the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his support in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Netanyahu is a great “partner for peace” in the fight against the Iran been, Trump wrote on his platform Truth Social about the man with whom he started the war against Iran at the end of February. The Islamic Republic has been destroyed both militarily and financially and unless it changes course quickly, this task will soon be completed, Trump threatened Tehran.

“If Israel has the wrong leader – and that would be anyone other than Bibi – America will have to do this job itself, and I am not inclined to do that.” Netanyahu has proven himself to be strong, courageous and brilliant in the face of enormous resistance, including from his own country, praised Trump. He is exactly the kind of partner that the USA expected from Israel. “Please consider this letter to be an expression of my full and complete support for Bibi Netanyahu in his upcoming re-election bid for Prime Minister of Israel,” Trump wrote.

Almost a week and a half before the Israeli parliamentary election on October 27th, the US President answered a question that he had previously left unanswered for months. In mid-June, according to the Israeli broadcaster Kan, he said in an interview that he would probably support Netanyahu in the election, but would first have to wait and see who was running. Trump added at the time that he had a good relationship with Netanyahu, but that Netanyahu needed to act more sensibly.

After Trump and Netanyahu started the war against Iran together, different interests between the two seemed to emerge as the conflict continued. The US President then expressed unusual public criticism of Netanyahu.

Netanyahu thanked the US President for his words in a video. He feels deeply honored by Trump’s extraordinary support. “I could say – and it’s quite simple – that there has never been a greater friend of Israel in the White House.” That is an understatement. The United States would be fortunate to have a leader with conviction, clarity and courage to confront this threat to America and Israel. “Thank you for your incredible leadership,” Netanyahu said to Trump.