Trump and Netanyahu’s once blossoming bromance sours at a pivotal moment for both men
Trump and Netanyahu’s Once-Close Alliance Faces an Israeli Election Test
Healfromzero.com – Trump and Netanyahu’s once close political partnership is no longer as visible as Israel approaches its October 27 election. For years, Benjamin Netanyahu used his relationship with Donald Trump to reinforce his image as a leader with exceptional access to Washington. This time, however, Trump has not issued a formal endorsement.
Netanyahu’s campaign has historically highlighted the connection through advertisements and public appearances. New Likud billboards have appeared late in the campaign, but Trump is absent. Although Trump still appears in some campaign videos, the reduced emphasis reflects the uncertainty surrounding their relationship.
Less than two weeks before the vote, Trump has avoided saying whether Netanyahu should remain in office. In an interview with Time earlier this month, Trump said he was no longer involved in Israeli politics.
“I’m not involved in [Israeli] politics anymore,” Trump told Time.
A Campaign Asset That Has Lost Its Visibility
Trump and Netanyahu’s once reliable campaign dynamic gave Netanyahu high-profile political moments in previous elections. Trump appeared in a video supporting “Benjamin” as early as 2013, before he became president. After entering the White House in 2017, Trump made decisions that Netanyahu could present as diplomatic achievements.
In March 2019, shortly before an Israeli election, Netanyahu traveled to Washington to watch Trump sign a proclamation recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights. In January 2020, five weeks before another election, Trump unveiled his Israeli-Palestinian “Deal of the Century” proposal with Netanyahu at his side.
Those events helped Netanyahu portray himself as a leader with unusually close ties to a US president. The current campaign has offered no comparable spectacle. Netanyahu’s August White House visit was not open to cameras, and there was no meeting when he traveled to New York for the UN General Assembly in September.
Growing Friction Over War and Politics
The relationship has been strained by disagreements over Israel’s military actions in Lebanon and Gaza, which undermined peace efforts led by the US president. Trump has privately expressed frustration with Netanyahu and warned that Israeli actions were costing support among Americans.
Trump also questioned Israel’s destruction of apartment buildings in Lebanon and expressed concern that the Iran war could contribute to a broader global economic downturn. Inside the White House, Netanyahu’s decisions were frequently viewed through the lens of Israeli election politics.
By summer, many Trump advisers believed Netanyahu was seeking to extend the Iran war in ways that could bolster his political position. Trump has allowed Netanyahu room to navigate domestic pressure, but he has also concluded that some Israeli decisions conflict with US interests.
Trump’s caution may have an electoral dimension as well. He has traditionally been reluctant to associate himself with candidates seen as likely to lose. Netanyahu’s difficult polling position may therefore give Trump another reason to remain publicly noncommittal, even as the prime minister projects confidence.
FAQ: What This Means for Israeli Voters
Has Trump endorsed Netanyahu in the October 27 election? No. Trump has not offered Netanyahu a formal endorsement and has declined to say whether he believes Netanyahu should remain in office.
Why did Trump matter to Netanyahu’s previous campaigns? Their public relationship provided Netanyahu with major Washington moments, including the 2019 Golan Heights proclamation and the 2020 presentation of the Israeli-Palestinian proposal.
Why is Trump less prominent in the current Likud campaign? The lack of a formal endorsement, fewer public meetings, and tensions over the war have made the relationship less useful as a visible campaign message than it was in earlier elections.
