President Donald Trump on Sunday in West Palm Beach, Fla., endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late in his reelection campaign, support he had withheld for months as their Middle East strategies diverged, ahead of Israelis voting Oct. 27.
Trump described Netanyahu in a social media post as a strong wartime prime minister and partner in confronting Iran. He also threatened action against Tehran unless it changed course rapidly, saying the United States could face doing that work itself under a different Israeli leader.
Netanyahu thanked Trump in a Hebrew statement posted on X, saying, “Together we will complete the mission!” His Likud Party attached a 35-second video showing the two leaders together and Trump praising Netanyahu.
The Oct. 27 vote is Israel’s first national election since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Trump endorsed Netanyahu in past elections and in November asked Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Netanyahu on corruption charges, though he had more recently declined to commit to backing him.