Trump endorses Netanyahu days before Israeli election, warns US could face Iran alone if PM loses

US President Donald Trump endorsed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, nine days before Israel's October 27 election, praising his leadership and warning that the United States would have to confront Iran without Israel's support if Netanyahu were replaced, he said in a Truth Social post on Sunday.

"To the great people of Israel," Trump began, "Bibi Netanyahu has been a Great Warrior Prime Minister, and an even greater Partner for Peace in combating the Islamic Republic of Iran, with its 51-year-old chant, “Death to Israel, Death to America! We will destroy the Little Satan and the Big Satan."

The endorsement marks a reversal from Trump's position during a Newsmax interview on Thursday, when he refused to endorse any candidate, including Netanyahu.

"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."

Trump praised Netanyahu as "Strong, Brave, and Brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition, including that coming from even Israel, itself," ***

"Despite all of that, he has endured and, in fact, he has thrived! I have watched Bibi under the most trying of times. Normal men or women in such situations would have wilted under the pressure - But Bibi did not wilt, he actually got stronger, and maintains that same Strength today."

Trump went on to describe Netanyahu as "the kind of partner that the United States of America is demanding of Israel, a country for which it has done so much."

"Please let this Letter serve to represent my Complete and Total Endorsement of Bibi Netanyahu in his upcoming Race for Re-Election as Prime Minister of Israel. BIBI NETANYAHU WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN! Thank you for your attention to this matter."

This should help galvanize support for Netanyahu… and opposition to re-electing Netanyahu.

According to recent polls, Netanyahu’s outgoing coalition averages 50.6 seats in the latest polls—10 short of a majority. The vote is in 9 days. Polling data from February 11, 2026:

73% of Israelis rate Trump as a better-than-average US president in terms of Israel’s interests, with 49% describing him as one of the best in history for Israel.

“Ninety-two percent of the Israeli right believed Trump’s presidency was above average (including 73% who said he was one of the best presidents), whereas only 34% of the Israeli left held positive views of him.”

However, that support has collapsed since February:

A June poll found that 71% do not trust Trump to protect Israeli interests in a deal with Iran, and 67% believe his policies are bad for Israel. A July survey by the Jewish People Policy Institute found that only 7% have a “great deal of trust” that he will do the right thing on US-Israel relations.para A go-to site for tracking Israel election polls:

**https://www.israel.com/israel-election-2026**

Let’s hope that Netanyahu and his coalition win in the upcoming election.

Grok:

No one can say with certainty who will win—the election is on October 27, 2026 (in about nine days), and current polls show a tight, fragmented race with neither major bloc consistently reaching a majority.
Israelgazette
Israel elects its 120-seat Knesset by proportional representation (nationwide party lists, 3.25% threshold ≈ 4 seats). A government needs at least 61 seats. About 38 lists are running; only around 11–12 are expected to enter. Official results are expected around November 4, after which the president consults parties and tasks a candidate (usually from a larger list or viable bloc) with forming a coalition.
Israelgazette
Latest polling picture (as of mid-October 2026)
Yashar (led by former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot) and Likud (Benjamin Netanyahu) are the two largest parties, often near 20–26 seats each. Yashar leads or ties in most recent surveys; some right-leaning polls (e.g., Channel 14) put Likud ahead.

Timesofisrael
Other notable parties: B’Yachad (Naftali Bennett/Yair Lapid area, ~11–13), Democrats (Yair Golan, ~8–10), Yisrael Beiteinu (Avigdor Liberman, ~8–9), Shas and United Torah Judaism (~7–10 each), Otzma Yehudit (Itamar Ben-Gvir, ~7–9), Religious Zionism/Zehut (~6), Joint List and Ra’am (Arab parties, combined ~12–14), plus smaller lists near the threshold (e.g., Reservists).
Thepetek

Blocs: The outgoing Netanyahu-aligned bloc (Likud + religious/right partners) and the Zionist opposition (Yashar + B’Yachad + Democrats + Yisrael Beiteinu, etc.) both average roughly 50–55 seats in recent aggregates—short of 61. Neither side has a clear path to a stable majority without deals involving smaller parties, independents, or (more controversially) Arab lists.
Israel

Polls vary by outlet and have margins of error; some right-leaning surveys give Netanyahu's side a better chance of reaching or nearing 61, while others favor the opposition. Israeli polls have historically missed by several seats, and late swings, turnout, threshold effects, and surplus-vote agreements can change outcomes.
What happens next
After the vote, coalition talks will decide the next prime minister. Possibilities include a Netanyahu-led right/religious government (if numbers and partners align), an Eisenkot-led or broader opposition/“change” government, a national-unity arrangement, or prolonged deadlock (which has happened before in Israel). Key issues shaping the vote include security and the aftermath of October 7 2023 and subsequent wars, accountability for intelligence/military failures, the ultra-Orthodox draft, judicial/political reforms, and the ongoing Gaza/West Bank situation.
Crisisgroup

In short: the race is too close and the system too fragmented for a reliable prediction of a single “winner.” The real outcome will be determined by seat totals plus post-election bargaining.

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