Donald Trump declines to endorse Netanyahu ahead of Israeli elections

U.S. President Donald Trump has declined to endorse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s upcoming national elections on October 27. In a recent interview with TIME magazine, Trump sidestepped multiple questions regarding whether Netanyahu should be reelected, stating, “I’m not involved in politics anymore.”

This refusal to offer an endorsement marks a shift from previous displays of support, such as during the 2019 campaign when Netanyahu used advertisements featuring Trump. While Trump emphasized that his primary focus is helping Israel defend itself, he maintained a calculated distance from the domestic electoral process.

The absence of an endorsement is considered a setback for the Likud party, as Netanyahu has frequently cited his close relationship with Trump as a political asset. The upcoming Israeli vote represents the first national election held since the 2023 Hamas attacks.