Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu moved fast to publicly thank President Donald Trump after Trump stunned the political world on Sunday with a full endorsement, just nine days before Israel votes on October 27, 2026. In a Truth Social letter addressed to the people of Israel, Trump called Netanyahu a “great warrior prime minister” and a partner in the fight against Iran, and he gave him his “complete and total endorsement.” He also warned that if Israel has a different leader, America would have to deal with Iran itself, and that he is not inclined to do so. Netanyahu’s campaign wasted no time, releasing a clip of Trump’s past praise within minutes, and one analyst told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency this is the first time a US president has openly backed a candidate in an Israeli election.

The timing is huge, because this is Israel’s first national election since the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023, and it comes in the middle of wars involving Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. Polls suggest Netanyahu’s coalition could fall short of the 61 seats needed to govern, and his main rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, pushed back by saying Israeli voters, not outsiders, will decide the result. It is also far from certain that the endorsement will move votes, since reports say Israeli public support for Trump has dipped amid friction between the two governments, and Axios reported that Trump has privately voiced frustration with Netanyahu even as he chose to back him. Israel’s prime minister is chosen by building a coalition in parliament, not by a direct national vote, so the real question is whether the numbers add up after the ballots are counted. With days left on the clock, the big unknown is whether a White House endorsement helps Netanyahu or becomes another talking point for his opponents.