Trump Warns U.S. May Act Alone

President Donald Trump issued a second endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday evening, positioning his support as a final push before Israel's election. The move follows reports that Netanyahu intensified efforts to secure new statements from Washington in the days leading up to the vote.

The endorsement arrived after a period of intense lobbying by Netanyahu and his allies within Trump's inner circle. Two American sources told The Jerusalem Post that the prime minister and his supporters increased pressure on Trump to issue new declarations of support. One source described the behavior as unusual, stating, "We have never seen Netanyahu like this before. He is showing signs of political desperation."

Axios reported that the two leaders have spoken twice in the past three days. During these conversations, Netanyahu reportedly suggested specific wording for Trump's endorsements. An Israeli source briefed on the efforts said the prime minister also proposed that Trump speak directly with Israeli journalists to repeat his support, a step designed to amplify the message across media channels.

In his Truth Social post, Trump praised the working relationship between the two nations, citing Operation Midnight Hammer and Operation Epic Fury as examples of joint success. He told voters to remember that Netanyahu has been an "outstanding Warrior Prime Minister" and urged them to cast their ballots accordingly. The post included a direct appeal: "Vote for Bibi Netanyahu for Prime Minister; we have to finish the job that we started!"

The message also contained a warning about the potential shift in U.S. policy if voters choose a different candidate. Trump wrote, "If Israel has the wrong leader, meaning anyone other than Bibi, America will have to do this job itself, and I'm not inclined to do that." The Jerusalem Post noted that this remark referred to the ongoing confrontation with Iran, implying that a change in Israeli leadership could lead to a more unilateral American approach.

The endorsement lands just days before Israeli voters head to the polls. It combines praise for Netanyahu's military leadership, a direct call to vote for him, and a statement on the consequences of electing a rival. The timing aligns with reports that Netanyahu has been actively seeking this specific form of public backing from Washington to influence the final stretch of the campaign.