Former US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he will likely support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel's upcoming election, but wants to see who else is running. The comment, reported by the Times of Israel, follows Trump's earlier remarks this week questioning Netanyahu's political future and urging him to be more rational.
Former US President Donald Trump said on Thursday evening that he is likely to endorse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel's upcoming election — his most direct public signal of support since the election campaign began — but cautioned that he wants to see who else is running. The statement was reported by the Times of Israel.
The remark follows a week of mixed signals from Trump about Netanyahu. Earlier on Thursday, Trump told Israel's Kan public broadcaster that he likely would support Netanyahu but that Netanyahu should be "more rational." On Wednesday, Trump had publicly questioned whether Netanyahu would continue for another term, an uncertainty that prompted the Likud party to formally affirm that Netanyahu would be its candidate. The Times of Israel separately reported on Wednesday that Trump may be tiring of Netanyahu, citing a poll showing many Israelis would welcome a new leader.
As The Zioneer reported on Tuesday, Trump had said Netanyahu's next term is an open question; by Wednesday, Likud pushed back, confirming Netanyahu would run. Thursday's Kan interview, reported by The Zioneer at 17:11 Jerusalem, marked Trump's first conditional endorsement of the campaign. The evening statement to the Times of Israel adds the condition that Trump wants to see the full field before a final endorsement.
What remains open: Trump has not committed his endorsement unconditionally, and the campaign is still in its early stages, with no declared challengers beyond Netanyahu at this point.
5 developments
- DevelopingTrump says Netanyahu's next term is an open question
- DevelopingTimes of Israel: Trump may be tiring of Netanyahu as poll shows Israelis want change
- StrongLikud confirms Netanyahu will run in next election, pushing back against Trump's doubts
- DevelopingTrump: Netanyahu will have no choice but to accept any Iran agreement
Source and signal
- Internal intake