‘Never spoke to him about it’: Trump denies 2nd endorsement of Netanyahu followed pressure from PM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his endorsement from US President Donald Trump as the country prepares for its upcoming election. Trump stated that they should "finish the job" on Iran, implying a potential restart of the war against Iran if Netanyahu wins the election. The US President said he would endorse Netanyahu for another two years, emphasizing his friendship with the Israeli leader.

Trump also urged his supporters to vote for Netanyahu, as they need to complete the task they began together in February. Netanyahu mentioned that Trump is willing to take action to remove the Iranian threat, provided that Netanyahu stays in power. However, White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly clarified that Iran is in "very bad condition" economically and militarily, and the US will not launch an attack on Iran before the midterm elections on November 3.

Trump endorsed Netanyahu on October 18, and reaffirmed his support on Sunday. Netanyahu's main rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, welcomed Trump's backing, calling him a "true friend of Israel." The upcoming vote in Israel, the first since the Hamas attacks in October 2023, will mark the first opportunity for voters to judge the nation's response to the security crisis and the ongoing wars.

With Netanyahu heading the most right-wing government in Israeli history, politics have become more extreme, with few parties opposing the "two-state solution." Polls indicate Netanyahu's Likud party may lose seats, jeopardizing the coalition's narrow majority. Eisenkot and several opposition parties have no clear path to defeat Netanyahu.

The 77-year-old leader has proven resilient, having narrowly escaped removal from office multiple times.