'If Israel has the wrong leader, the US will have to finish the job — and I don't want that'

Netanyahu welcomes Trump's first endorsement: 'Grateful for tremendous support'

US President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upon his arrival at the West Wing of the White House in Washington, D.C., in September last year. [AFP]
US President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upon his arrival at the West Wing of the White House in Washington, D.C., in September last year. [AFP]

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US President Donald Trump threw his full support behind Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (local time), nine days before Israel's general election on Oct. 27.

In an open letter to the Israeli people posted on Truth Social, Trump described Netanyahu as "a great warrior prime minister and an even greater partner for peace in fighting Iran, which for 51 years has chanted 'Death to Israel, Death to America, destroy the Little Satan and the Great Satan.'"

Trump added that "unless they (Iran) change their tune quickly, we will finish the job," and warned that "if Israel has the wrong leader other than Bibi, the United States will have to do this themselves, and I don't want to do that." ("Bibi" is a nickname for Netanyahu's given name, Benjamin.)

Trump said Netanyahu had been "tough, brave and outstanding despite tremendous opposition, even from within Israel," calling him "exactly the kind of partner America needs from Israel." He said he hoped the letter would serve as his "complete and total endorsement" of Netanyahu's reelection as prime minister in the upcoming vote. It marked Trump's first public endorsement ahead of the Israeli election. He had previously held back from openly backing Netanyahu over disagreements on Lebanon and Gaza.

Polling shows the Yisrael party of Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief of staff and the leading opposition candidate, running ahead of Netanyahu's ruling Likud party. The question now is whether Trump's endorsement — given his continued popularity in Israel — can help Netanyahu reverse an unfavorable electoral landscape.

The Associated Press noted that it was not immediately clear what impact the endorsement would have on what is expected to be a close race, adding that while Trump remains popular in Israel, many Israelis, including prominent commentators, have expressed disappointment over the incomplete results of the Iran war and Trump's truce proposals.

Netanyahu, who had been waiting for Trump's backing, responded immediately. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote: "Thank you, President Trump, for your tremendous support and cooperation. Together we will complete this mission."


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