Despite praise and White House visits, Trump avoids endorsing Netanyahu

President Donald Trump refused to comment on whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be reelected before the Israeli elections on October 27. This absence of an endorsement could be a disadvantage for Netanyahu, whose strong ties to Trump have been seen as a key factor in his political career. Trump, who recently sat down for a 75-minute interview with Time magazine, avoided multiple inquiries about Netanyahu's reelection bid.

Israelis will be voting in the first national elections since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Trump, who is currently campaigning for Republicans in the November midterms, has been more vocal in his support for other world leaders, such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and Polish President Karol Nawrocki.

His comments about Netanyahu contrast sharply with his previous support for him, such as when Netanyahu purchased billboards featuring Trump and the message "Netanyahu. In Another League" during his 2019 campaign. Trump did, however, acknowledge Netanyahu's resilience despite facing a years-long corruption trial, massive protests in 2023 due to his plan to restructure Israel's judiciary, and intelligence and security lapses before the Oct.

7, 2023, Hamas attack. In June, before Netanyahu announced his opponent, Gadi Eisenkot, Trump said he would "most likely" endorse Netanyahu but would need to see who he was running against. The U.S.-Israel relationship has been strained, particularly during the Iran war, with Trump criticizing Israel's decision to attack an Iranian gas field and his rejection of Netanyahu's plan to advance the Gaza ceasefire.