US President Donald Trump once again threw his weight behind incumbent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel elections tomorrow, reiterating his endorsement of the Israeli leader, asking citizens to “vote for Bibi for PM.”
In his latest post on Truth Social, Trump praised Netanyahu as an “outstanding Warrior Prime Minister,” while invoking their close ties and joint military campaign against Iran.
Trump also cited US operations, including Operation Midnight Hammer and Operation Epic Fury, while claiming that Iran’s military and economy had been severely weakened.
“To the people of Israel, to those who haven’t seen it, I am attaching the Endorsement I gave one week ago to your Prime Minister, Bibi Netanyahu. As everyone is aware, including the enemy, Bibi and I have had a great relationship in winning together. I did the Venezuelan attack, one of the most successful Military Operations in History but, before that, we did Operation Midnight Hammer, stopping the World’s Number One State Sponsor of Terror from obtaining a Nuclear Weapon. Then we did Operation Epic Fury, and Iran now has No Navy, No Air Force, and both their Military and Economy are in shambles, including the fact that Iran’s Inflation is at 301 per cent,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Further, Trump referred to the naval blockade imposed by the US forces on Strait of Hormuz and its impact on oil supplies, saying, “The Naval Blockade has precluded them from getting Oil, and two levels of leadership, both Military and otherwise, are gone. When you go to the Polls please remember that Bibi has been an outstanding Warrior Prime Minister! Israel was called The Little Satan, with the United States being called The Big Satan, by some very evil people.
Calling on Israelis to “finish the job”, Trump renewed his appeal and said, “There can no longer be the chant heard around the World of “Death to America, Death to Israel,” and there won’t be. Vote for Bibi Netanyahu for Prime Minister, we have to finish the job that we started!”
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Netanyahu reportedly sought Trump’s public support
With his political future hanging in the balance ahead of Tuesday’s elections, Netanyahu has sought greater public backing from Trump, according to two sources cited by an Axios report.
Neta Molcho, a spokesperson for Netanyahu’s Likud party, rejected claims that Netanyahu had sought Trump’s backing, stating that the Prime Minister made no such requests either in the days leading up to the endorsement or beforehand, the Axios report added.
Trump had earlier endorsed Netanyahu on October 18. On Truth Social, he had said, “Bibi Netanyahu has been Strong, Brave, and Brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition, including that coming from even Israel, itself.”
The tensions in the Middle East have remained high since February 28, when the US and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran.
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Netanyahu had quickly responded to and acknowledged Trump’s October 18 endorsement. In a post on X, Netanyahu wrote, “Thank you, President Trump, for your tremendous support and for our work together. Together we will complete the mission!”
‘Only Israelis can choose their leader’: Netanyahu election rival
Netanyahu’s main rival in this election, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, had also responded to Trump’s endorsement, saying “only Israelis can choose their leader”.
According to AFP, speaking at a conference in Tel Aviv, Eisenkot said he “admires” Trump, but “Israel is a democratic country: only Israelis can choose their leader”.
Netanyahu facing prospect of losing power amid growing public discontent
Israel is set to hold parliamentary elections on October 27 to elect a new Knesset, with Netanyahu facing the prospect of losing power amid growing public discontent. The election will be the country’s first national vote since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack and the ensuing wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, is seeking to remain in office as his government faces scrutiny over the security failures surrounding the October 7 attack and other issues. The elections are being viewed as a test of his political standing, with recent opinion polls suggesting that his governing coalition could lose power, according to Reuters.
