# Trump backs Netanyahu days before Israeli election

> The U.S. president endorses the embattled Israeli leader after months of withholding support as their Middle East strategies diverged.
- Title: Trump backs Netanyahu days before Israeli election · NPR
- Summary: The U.S. president endorses the embattled Israeli leader after months of withholding support as their Middle East strategies diverged. Donald Trump endorsed…
- Keywords: donald trump, benjamin netanyahu, israel, israeli elections, likud party, iran, gaza, middle east, news, Trump, backs, Netanyahu
- Source: NPR — https://npr.org/2026/10/19/g-s1-148731/trump-endorses-netanyahu
- Published: 2026-10-19T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: donald trump, benjamin netanyahu, israel, israeli elections, likud party, iran, gaza, middle east, news
## Trump backs Netanyahu at last
President Donald Trump endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, calling him a great warrior and partner for peace against Iran. The endorsement came late in Netanyahu's reelection campaign.

> has been a Great Warrior Prime Minister, and an even greater Partner for Peace in combatting the Islamic Republic of Iran
## Netanyahu sought this for months
Netanyahu had billed his tight ties to Trump as a selling point for staying in power, but Trump withheld his endorsement for months as the leaders' strategies in the Middle East diverged.
## Israelis vote October twenty-seventh
Israelis are set to vote October twenty-seventh in the first national elections since Hamas attacked Israel on October seventh, twenty twenty-three. The race is expected to be tight.
## Trump threatens Iran, warns on Netanyahu loss
Trump threatened to finish the job against Iran unless they change their ways rapidly.But he said he might not want to if Netanyahu loses.

> 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
## Months of tension over strategy
Trump and Netanyahu seemed aligned after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities in twenty twenty-five. But over nearly eight months of war with Iran this year, they disagreed on tactics and goals.
## Gaza ceasefire plan rejected
Netanyahu rejected Trump's latest plan to advance a stalled ceasefire in Gaza in August, pushing back on the U.S. call for Israel to withdraw from territory it controls until Hamas has been disarmed.
## Netanyahu thanks Trump, vows to finish mission
Netanyahu said in a statement in Hebrew posted on X, thank you President Trump for the tremendous support and work together.Together we will complete the mission.

> Thank you, President Trump, for the tremendous support and work together. Together we will complete the mission!
## Key takeaway

Donald Trump endorsed Benjamin Netanyahu for reelection on October nineteenth, a boost the Israeli prime minister had sought for months as the two leaders' approaches to Iran and Gaza diverged.