US President Donald Trump endorsed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, nine days before Israel's October 27 election, praising his leadership and warning that the United States would have to confront Iran without Israel's support if Netanyahu were replaced, he said in a Truth Social post on Sunday.
"To the great people of Israel," Trump began, "Bibi Netanyahu has been a Great Warrior Prime Minister, and an even greater Partner for Peace in combating the Islamic Republic of Iran, with its 51-year-old chant, “Death to Israel, Death to America! We will destroy the Little Satan and the Big Satan."
The endorsement marks a reversal from Trump's position during a Newsmax interview on Thursday, when he refused to endorse any candidate, including Netanyahu.
Trump, on Sunday, portrayed Netanyahu as indispensable to US efforts to counter Iran, suggesting that any alternative Israeli leader would leave Washington to confront the Iranian threat on its own.
"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 highlights Netanyahu's leadership through Israel's crises
Trump praised Netanyahu as "Strong, Brave, and Brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition, including that coming from even Israel, itself," highlighting his leadership and resilience amid the election campaign.
The US president also praised Netanyahu's leadership amid the challenges Israel has faced since the October 7 massacre, highlighting his resilience under extraordinary pressure.
"Despite all of that, he has endured and, in fact, he has thrived! I have watched Bibi under the most trying of times. Normal men or women in such situations would have wilted under the pressure - But Bibi did not wilt, he actually got stronger, and maintains that same Strength today."
Trump pledges full support for Netanyahu ahead of election, the partner America needs
Trump went on to describe Netanyahu as "the kind of partner that the United States of America is demanding of Israel, a country for which it has done so much."
He concluded with an explicit endorsement of Netanyahu's reelection bid.
"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. BIBI NETANYAHU WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN! Thank you for your attention to this matter."
Trump's close advisors opposed idea of public endorsement, sources tell 'Post'
Some of Trump’s closest advisers and allies opposed the idea of him publicly supporting Benjamin Netanyahu, two sources familiar with the details told The Jerusalem Post.
One key figure in the story may have been John McLaughlin. McLaughlin is a pollster for both Trump and Netanyahu, and the data he had at his disposal may have influenced the president’s decision.
Netanyahu thanks Trump for endorsement
Netanyahu thanked Trump for his endorsement in a post on his official X account, writing, "Thank you, President Trump, for the tremendous support and the joint work. Together we will complete the mission!"
Netanyahu also reposted a translation of Trump's Truth Social post onto his official X account, and in a second post, shared a screenshot of Trump's Truth Social post in Hebrew, with the emojis of the flags of Israel and the US, respectively, with a heart emoji in between them.
Eisenkot has respect for Trump but insists election is internal Israeli matter
Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, who is seen as a main opposition candidate to replace Netanyahu as prime minister, responded to Trump on Israel's Channel 12.
"I have very great respect for President Trump, but the only ones who will decide [the election] are the citizens of Israel, and I will continue to stand by that," Eisenkot said.
Smotrich, Katz welcome Trump's statement
"President Trump is one of the State of Israel's greatest friends in the world. He has walked a long path alongside us to bolster our [national] security, and for that, every Israeli citizen should be grateful," Religious Zionist Party leader and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said.
Trump "is also well aware of the tremendous achievements attained through the cooperation of our two nations and their leaders, and of [the degree to which] Netanyahu's leadership has contributed to these successes. It has been a tremendous privilege for me to be a part of those achievements [and work] alongside both leaders over the past few years." Smotrich added.
"It is the citizens of Israel who will decide the outcome of the Israeli elections. However, it would be wise to listen to the president of the world's greatest superpower, simply because he is right," he continued.
The right-wing "must continue to lead the State of Israel and, with God's help, continue the cooperation between Israel and the United States to ensure the future of Israel's security," Smotrich said.
Defense Minister Israel Katz also welcomed Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu.
“I welcome US President Donald Trump's unequivocal support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel's upcoming elections, as well as his tremendous appreciation for Netanyahu's leadership over the past three years," the minister, who is part of Netanyahu's Likud party, wrote.
Trump knows that "only Netanyahu can maintain the historic cooperation between the two leaders, as well as between the IDF and the US military, to achieve the remaining objectives of the campaign against Iran. This is an extremely important strategic message for Israel's future security,” he added.