RismadarVoice Reporters
October 26, 2026
United States President Donald Trump has renewed his endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging voters to support him in Tuesday’s parliamentary election and praising his leadership during the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Trump appealed on Sunday through his Truth Social platform, describing Netanyahu as an outstanding wartime leader and highlighting their cooperation in military operations against Iran.
The US president urged Israelis to vote for Netanyahu, arguing that both countries needed to continue their joint efforts against what he described as threats from Tehran.
His latest intervention came just two days before Israel’s October 27 parliamentary election, which will determine the composition of the 120-member Knesset.
Trump had earlier endorsed Netanyahu on October 18, describing him as a strong leader and an important partner of the United States.
In that statement, he offered his complete endorsement of the Israeli prime minister’s re-election campaign and suggested that Netanyahu’s defeat could complicate Washington’s approach to the conflict with Iran.
The renewed support comes as Netanyahu faces a closely contested election against opposition parties seeking a change in leadership.
Former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot, a prominent opposition contender, has campaigned on promises to strengthen national unity and establish an independent inquiry into the security failures surrounding Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, has emphasised his government’s security record and cooperation with the United States during the regional conflict.
The prime minister has also faced criticism over the handling of the war in Gaza, domestic political divisions and disagreements surrounding military service exemptions.
Trump’s involvement has attracted attention because foreign leaders traditionally avoid publicly endorsing candidates in the domestic elections of allied countries.
Israeli opposition figures have maintained that the country’s political future should be determined by its own voters, despite the importance of relations with Washington.
Recent opinion surveys indicated that neither Netanyahu’s existing coalition nor the main opposition bloc had a clear route to securing the 61 parliamentary seats required to form a government.
Under Israel’s parliamentary system, voters elect parties to the Knesset, after which coalition negotiations determine who can form a governing majority.
The election will be Israel’s first national parliamentary vote since the October 2023 Hamas attack and the subsequent conflicts involving Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.
Trump’s latest endorsement adds an international dimension to the final stage of campaigning, although its effect on voters remains uncertain.
