Trump Backs Netanyahu Ahead of Israeli Elections

Former President Donald Trump has once again shown his support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging voters to choose him in the upcoming election, with a call to “finish the job” against Iran.

Trump posted on Truth Social, “Vote for Bibi Netanyahu for Prime Minister, we have to finish the job that we started!”

In this endorsement, he highlighted their collaboration on military actions against Iran, referencing strikes that targeted the country’s nuclear sites and weakened its military capability.

“Bibi and I have had a great relationship in winning together,” he stated, mentioning operations like Operation Midnight Hammer, which specifically aimed at Iran’s nuclear facilities, and Operation Epic Fury, a broader campaign against the regime.

He added, “Then we did Operation Epic Fury, and Iran now has No Navy, No Air Force, and both their Military and Economy are in shambles.”

Trump also pointed to Iran’s economic struggles, claiming inflation had soared to 301 percent, and he credited the U.S. naval blockade with limiting its oil revenue, along with the removal of key figures in the regime’s military and political structure.

The former president asked Israelis to consider Netanyahu’s record when they vote, labeling him an “outstanding Warrior Prime Minister.”

He referenced Iran’s persistent threats toward both Israel and the United States, stating that the inflammatory chants of “Death to America, Death to Israel” are intolerable.

This renewed endorsement follows reports that Netanyahu sought further public backing from Trump, according to Axios, which cited a source familiar with their conversations. Reportedly, Netanyahu reached out to Trump twice in the days leading up to the endorsement, requesting that he reinforce his support and offer additional statements.

However, Netanyahu’s Likud party denied this, with spokesperson Neta Molcho asserting that the prime minister had not asked Trump for campaign support, either recently or before the previous Sunday’s endorsement.

Trump’s latest comments echoed his earlier endorsement, where he warned that Iran had already suffered significant military and financial blows, predicting that the U.S. and Israel would “soon finish the job” unless Iran altered its course swiftly.

He cautioned that if Netanyahu were to lose, the U.S. might face confronting Iran alone, a scenario he finds unappealing. “If Israel has the wrong Leader, which would be anyone other than Bibi, America will have to do this work ourselves, and I am not inclined to do so,” he remarked.

In response, Netanyahu emphasized, “Together we will complete the mission!” following Trump’s prior endorsement.

This endorsement enters a complex scenario as Trump weighs whether to negotiate with Iran or opt for military action. “Do I make a deal with them or do I finish them off? That’s the only question,” he mentioned during a Fox News interview.

As of the final polls leading up to the election, it appeared that neither Netanyahu’s party nor the opposition group could secure the 61 seats needed for a majority in Israel’s parliament, which has 120 seats.

Earlier on the same day, Netanyahu released a campaign video showing an AI-generated image of a nuclear blast over Tel Aviv, warning about a possible “second Holocaust” if Iran is allowed to pursue nuclear arms.

Additionally, during a visit to an Israeli missile-defense facility, Netanyahu cautioned that Iran and its affiliates might attempt to disrupt the elections, based on intelligence reports.

He also warned Iran against any aggressive actions, threatening a severe response to any attacks.

As Israelis prepare to head to the polls, the implications of Trump’s renewed support for Netanyahu remain uncertain.