Trump refrains from endorsing Netanyahu ahead of October 27 election

US President Donald Trump remains ambiguous about his support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the October 27 election approaches. While the two men have been close since Trump took office in 2017, the former president has avoided a clear endorsement of Netanyahu’s Likud party in the run‑up to the vote.

The Trump‑Netanyahu partnership has shaped US policy in the Middle East. Trump moved the American embassy to Jerusalem, recognized Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights, and pulled the U.S. out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. He also pushed normalization deals between Israel and several Arab states that sidestepped the Israel‑Palestine conflict. Netanyahu has used these moves to claim he is the best steward of Israel’s most important foreign relationship.

Despite this history, Trump’s recent public remarks have been cautious. In a Time interview, he avoided calling Netanyahu a friend and said he “doesn’t hear bad things” about Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, who is threatening Likud’s dominance. Trump has hosted Netanyahu at least seven times since returning to the White House, more than any other world leader, and has called for a pardon in Netanyahu’s corruption trial. His administration has also supplied advanced weapons to Israel during the Gaza conflict, intensified pressure on the International Criminal Court, and entered a war‑like stance against Iran.

Experts say Trump’s distance could signal a shift in U.S. support for Netanyahu as Israel faces a tough election. Yousef Munayyer of the Arab Center Washington says the president is “keeping greater distance” than expected. Michael Omer‑Man says the relationship has been choreographed for public consumption, with little real policy change. Whatever Trump’s final position, it will matter for Israel’s political future and for the broader U.S. strategy in the Middle East.