Trump declares 'complete' endorsement of Netanyahu nine days before Israeli election
MIDDLE EAST
U.S. President Donald Trump posted a letter to the people of Israel on his social media platform Truth Social at 10:45 a.m. on Oct. 18 (ET; 11:45 p.m. Oct. 18 KST), declaring his "Complete and Total" endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's re-election. The public endorsement came nine days before Israel's Knesset (parliament) election. Israeli voters will elect all 120 seats of the Knesset in the Oct. 27 election. Trump cited the threat from Iran first among his reasons for the endorsement. He said that if a leader other than Netanyahu took office in Israel, the United States would have to deal with Iran itself, and that he is "not inclined to do so." Netanyahu posted on X about two hours later to express his thanks, saying he would work with Trump to prevent the Iranian regime from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Trump formalizes endorsement, calling Netanyahu a 'Great Warrior Prime Minister'
The letter opens with the greeting "To the Great People of Israel." In its first sentence, Trump wrote that "Bibi Netanyahu has been a Great Warrior Prime Minister." Bibi is Netanyahu's nickname, and Trump referred to him by it throughout the letter. Trump said Netanyahu had been "an even greater Partner for Peace" in standing up to the Islamic Republic of Iran.
At the end of the letter, Trump wrote that he hoped the letter would be taken as representing his complete and total endorsement of Bibi Netanyahu in his race for re-election as prime minister of Israel, adding in capital letters, "BIBI NETANYAHU WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!" The signature line read "DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/117462449149582042
Netanyahu posted at 7:50 p.m. on Oct. 18 (Israel time; 1:50 a.m. Oct. 19 KST), about two hours after the letter went up, on his personal X account (@netanyahu) rather than the official Prime Minister's Office account. Addressing President Trump as his friend Donald, he wrote, "thank you for your extraordinary endorsement," adding, "Israel has never had a greater friend in the White House." He went on to say that together they would ensure the Iranian regime never has nuclear weapons, adding, "Thank you for your clarity, courage and unwavering support."
President Trump, my friend Donald - thank you for your extraordinary endorsement. Israel has never had a greater friend in the White House. Together we will never let Iran's regime get nuclear weapons. Thank you for your clarity, courage and unwavering support.@realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/GqaOVB74Dj
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) October 18, 2026
Trump cites Iran's 'Death to Israel' chant as a reason for endorsement
In the letter, Trump noted that Iran has chanted "Death to Israel, Death to America!" for 51 years. Trump said the chant is followed by the words "We will destroy the Little Satan and the Big Satan." Iran's leadership has called Israel the "Little Satan" and the United States the "Great Satan."
Trump asked how any country could survive when such hostile words are allowed, saying this was "because eventually, they always end up being true." He also said "it would have been only a question of time until Iran would have put that ominous phrase into effect."
Trump said Iran has now been "systematically destroyed, both Militarily and Financially." He then warned that "unless they change their ways, rapidly, we will soon finish the job."
Trump stresses U.S. would have to do the work on Iran itself without Netanyahu
"If Israel has the wrong Leader, which would be anyone other than Bibi, America will have to do this work ourselves, and I am not inclined to do so," Trump said.
Trump called Netanyahu "the kind of Partner that the United States of America is demanding of Israel." He described Israel as "a Country for which it has done so much."
Trump praises a leader who grew stronger amid opposition at home and abroad
"Bibi Netanyahu has been Strong, Brave, and Brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition," Trump said. That opposition, Trump said, included "that coming from even Israel, itself," adding, "Despite all of that, he has endured and, in fact, he has thrived!"
"I have watched Bibi under the most trying of times," Trump said, adding, "Normal men or women in such situations would have wilted under the pressure." "But Bibi did not wilt, he actually got stronger, and maintains that same Strength today," he said. Trump's letter ends with the sentence "Thank you for your attention to this matter."
Trump has combined negotiations first with military pressure this year
Trump also posted the results of his meetings with Netanyahu and the terms of a deal on Truth Social in February and April. At 1:54 p.m. on Feb. 11 (ET; 3:54 a.m. Feb. 12 KST), right after meeting Netanyahu and several Israeli representatives, he posted on Truth Social, "It was a very good meeting, the tremendous relationship between our two Countries continues." He said at the time, "There was nothing definitive reached," and that he had insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether a deal could be reached. Trump said he had also told Netanyahu that if a deal could be made it would be the preference, and that if not, "we will just have to see what the outcome will be."
In the same post, Trump warned, "Last time Iran decided that they were better off not making a Deal, and they were hit with Midnight Hammer," adding, "That did not work well for them." He added, "Hopefully this time they will be more reasonable and responsible." Midnight Hammer is the name of the U.S. operation against Iran in June 2025. According to a photo caption released by the U.S. Air Force, B-2 Spirit stealth bombers took off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri at the time in support of the operation. Trump said they had also discussed the great progress being made in Gaza and the region at the meeting, saying, "There is truly PEACE in the Middle East."
In a post on the morning of April 17 (ET; 10:57 p.m. the same day KST), Trump set out the terms of "This deal" himself. "The U.S.A. will get all Nuclear 'Dust,' created by our great B2 Bombers," he said, stating firmly, "No money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form." Trump said the deal was not related to Lebanon and that the United States would work separately with Lebanon to deal with the Hezbollah issue. He also said "Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer," stating that the United States prohibits it. He ended the post with "Enough is enough!!!"
Trump and Netanyahu also spoke by phone in June about a memorandum of understanding with Iran
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said on its X account on June 11 that Trump had spoken by phone with Netanyahu that evening. The two leaders discussed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that the United States was preparing in order to enter negotiations with Iran. The office added that Israel is not a party to the memorandum.
The Prime Minister’s Office:
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) June 11, 2026
President Trump spoke this evening with Prime Minister Netanyahu regarding the emerging memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran to enter into negotiations.
Even though Israel is not a party to the memorandum of understanding, the Prime Minister…