Donald Trump has endorsed Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel's forthcoming parliamentary elections, describing the Israeli prime minister as a «great warrior prime minister» in a post on his Truth Social platform. The intervention by the former US president and current Republican presidential candidate places him firmly behind his long-standing ally at a moment when Israeli voters are preparing to pass judgement on the government that led the country through the war in Gaza.
The endorsement is notable for its timing. Israel is heading towards its first national election since the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023, a vote that will be shaped by security, the conduct of the war and the domestic political reckoning that has followed. By weighing in before the campaign is fully under way, Trump has signalled that he intends to make his relationship with Netanyahu a visible part of the political landscape on both sides of the Atlantic.
Trump and Netanyahu have a long and closely observed relationship. The two men worked together during Trump's first term in the White House, a period that included the relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem and the brokering of the Abraham Accords. That record has made Trump a popular figure among sections of the Israeli right, and his endorsement is likely to be presented by Netanyahu's camp as a sign of continued international backing.
The phrase «great warrior prime minister» is characteristic of Trump's approach to political communication, combining personal loyalty with an emphasis on strength and military resolve. It also carries a clear message for Israeli voters at a time when the country's leadership is being judged on its handling of security. Whether that message shifts opinion is far less certain, given that Israeli elections are traditionally decided on domestic coalitions, party lists and the arithmetic of the Knesset rather than on foreign endorsements.
The endorsement may also carry complications. Trump's interventions in foreign elections have previously drawn criticism, and his support could be used by Netanyahu's opponents to argue that the prime minister is too closely tied to external figures. In a campaign expected to be closely fought, the value of a US endorsement is likely to be contested by all sides.
For now, the immediate effect is to sharpen the international dimension of a vote that will be watched closely across Europe and the Middle East. Israel's election will determine the composition of the next government and, with it, the direction of policy on the war, on the occupied West Bank and on relations with Washington. Trump's endorsement makes clear that he intends to be part of that conversation, whatever the outcome at the ballot box.