United States President endorses Netanyahu ahead of Israel's October 27 parliamentary elections

19 October 2026

United States President Donald Trump endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel's parliamentary elections, which are to be held on October 27, 2026. In a post on his Truth Social account on Sunday, October 18, 2026, Trump wrote, 'Please let this Letter serve to represent my Complete and Total Endorsement of Bibi Netanyahu', called him a 'Great Warrior Prime Minister' and commended his role in the war against Iran. Netanyahu thanked Trump for his support in a post on X. Netanyahu's Likud party and its coalition partners face an opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot, who responded that the Israeli public alone decides who the country's next leader is, while voicing appreciation of Trump's contribution to Israel's security. Opinion polls indicate a close contest; 61 of the 120 Knesset seats are needed to form a coalition.