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Trump bets on Netanyahu as Israeli election tests his Middle East agenda

President Trump likely views Prime Minister Netanyahu as a known partner should military operations against Iran resume.

billboard featuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump
People walk beneath a billboard featuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud party and US President Donald Trump, with a slogan in Hebrew reading, "President Trump: Vote Netanyahu! Only with him will we complete the mission," in Ramat Gan, Israel, on Oct. 20, 2026. — Jack Guez / AFP via Getty Images

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WASHINGTON — As the Israeli election nears, President Donald Trump is banking on a familiar partner in Benjamin Netanyahu as the safer choice to advance his priorities in Iran and across the Middle East.

Nine days out from the election, Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday to offer his "Complete and Total Endorsement” to current prime minister Netanyahu, describing him as “a Great Warrior." 

Never before has a US president made such an explicit endorsement during an Israeli election season, but whether it will sway voters remains to be seen. A Channel 12 poll conducted the next day suggested Netanyahu received no immediate boost, despite Trump’s popularity in Israel. 

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