Updated

US President Donald Trump issued a “complete and total endorsement” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on October 18, nine days before Israel's October 27 parliamentary election, posting on Truth Social that Netanyahu “will never let you down.” Trump warned that an alternative Israeli leader could leave Washington to face Iran alone, and Netanyahu thanked him publicly, urging voters to heed the endorsement. Analysts quoted across outlets were split on the impact: some called it a risky political gamble for Trump, while others said it was unlikely to sway committed voters on either side and mainly shifted campaign attention away from other issues. Rivals Eisenkot and Bennett said only Israeli voters would decide the outcome, and some Israeli pundits criticized Trump for “interfering” in the election.