Netanyahu shows 'political desperation' in push for Trump backing, US sources tell 'Post'

OCTOBER 25, 2026 17:17Updated: OCTOBER 25, 2026 17:34Two days before Israel’s elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is intensifying his efforts to secure additional support from US President Donald Trump, who already gave him an extraordinary public endorsement last week.Two American sources confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that Trump is facing particularly intense pressure from Netanyahu himself and several of the prime minister’s supporters within the president’s inner circle, who are seeking to generate additional political momentum through new statements of support.According to the sources, some figures close to Trump have been repeatedly raising Netanyahu and the Israeli elections with the president, seeking to ensure that he continues to publicly back the prime minister during the final days of the campaign.American sources with extensive knowledge of Israeli public sentiment described to the Post the intensity of Netanyahu’s efforts to secure American support.“We have never seen Netanyahu like this before. He is showing signs of political desperation,” they said.US President Donald Trump (L) holds hands and speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem on October 13, 2025. (credit: Photo by Chip Somodevilla/POOL/AFP/JTA)State Department signals readiness to work with Israel's next governmentMeanwhile, a senior US State Department official told the Post that the administration maintains contact with a broad range of Israeli stakeholders and looks forward to continuing its cooperation with the government formed following the elections.“As part of our regular diplomatic work, US officials engage with a broad range of Israeli stakeholders,” the official said. “We do not speak to private diplomatic conversations.”The official added: “We look forward to continuing our close partnership with Israel’s post-election government on shared priorities. Normalization between Israel and its neighbors remains a priority of this Administration.”The remarks underscore that the State Department is preparing to continue working with Israel’s elected leadership, even if it differs from the current government.Netanyahu asked Trump to increase his supportThe developments follow a report published Sunday by Axios, according to which Netanyahu spoke with Trump twice over the past three days and asked him to issue additional statements of support.According to the report, Netanyahu even suggested possible wording for new endorsements. An Israeli source briefed on the efforts told Axios that the prime minister proposed having Trump speak with Israeli journalists to reiterate his support.Last week, after months of refraining from an explicit endorsement, Trump posted a statement on Truth Social giving Netanyahu his “complete and total endorsement,” describing him as a “great warrior prime minister” and a key partner in the struggle against Iran.Trump also suggested that the election of another candidate could have consequences for relations with the United States.“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,” he wrote, referring to the confrontation with Iran.Not everyone in the administration is enthusiastic about Netanyahu’s endorsementDespite Trump’s public support, other senior administration officials have declined to join him.Vice President JD Vance made clear last week that he does not intend to endorse Netanyahu or intervene in Israel’s elections.“I’m not attacking Bibi Netanyahu. I’m not endorsing Bibi Netanyahu,” Vance said. “I think the president’s endorsement is ultimately what matters.”Vance noted that the only foreign candidate he had ever endorsed was former Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán, who lost the election in April.He said he intends to focus on the US midterm elections and will not endorse any more foreign candidates.And Vance is not the only one expressing reservations. Senior Trump advisers believe that a different Israeli government could actually make it easier to advance the president’s diplomatic objectives in the Middle East.Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have expressed frustration over difficulties implementing the president’s Gaza plan, while US envoy Tom Barrack has reservations about some of Israel’s actions in Syria.Within the State Department, officials believe Israel could do more to strengthen the Lebanese government and curb settler violence in the West Bank.Some American officials also believe that a government without Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners could give Washington greater flexibility in advancing regional agreements.Similar views are being expressed outside the administration.Jewish-American investor Bill Ackman, a prominent voice in the American public debate over Israel, called Sunday for the formation of a government without Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.According to Ackman, the two ministers have caused significant damage to Israel’s international reputation, and a government without them could help restore international credibility, expand the Abraham Accords, and improve Israel’s relations with both American political parties.The election test and the day afterFrom the White House’s perspective, the elections could affect not only the identity of Israel’s next prime minister but also the continuation of American initiatives across the Middle East, particularly the war with Iran, the reconstruction and demilitarization plan for Gaza, and the potential expansion of the Abraham Accords.Against this backdrop, the senior State Department official’s comments to the Post make clear that while Trump continues to offer Netanyahu his personal political backing, the US administration is maintaining channels of communication with other Israeli stakeholders and intends to continue advancing its regional agenda following the elections.Netanyahu, for his part, continues his efforts to ensure that the American president’s voice is heard in Israel during the final stretch of the election campaign.If Netanyahu remains in power, Trump could claim credit for saving the prime minister’s political future and press him for retribution. If he loses, whoever wins on Tuesday would still have every incentive to cultivate a good relationship with the president.Currently, Israeli polls show that Gadi Eisenkot is projected to secure an average of 23 seats, while Netanyahu’s Likud secured 20.Notably, Likud’s projected numbers for the 2026 election show it losing as many as 17 seats. The party currently holds 32 seats in the Knesset.Corinne Baum contributed to this report.Follow us on Google