Trump Claims His Endorsement Helped Netanyahu in Narrow Israeli Vote
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President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that his backing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supposedly changed the shape of Israel's election, with exit polls showing Netanyahu's party only slightly ahead. Netanyahu used the moment to praise Trump and the U.S.-Israel alliance as a chance to confront Iran.
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that his endorsement of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu changed the dynamics of Israel's election, framing his intervention as decisive even as the outcome remained tight. He suggested the race moved from what he described as a likely defeat to a possible stalemate or win for Netanyahu after the endorsement, and he said the backing was meant to benefit the Middle East, Israel and the United States.
Exit polls with more than 70% of votes counted show Netanyahu's party holding a slight lead over the bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot, while Arab parties have made modest gains.
Netanyahu responded to the poll results by describing President Trump as an ally and saying the United States-Israel partnership offers a "once-in-a-lifetime historic opportunity" to address the Iranian threat.
The president had previously urged voters to support Netanyahu, stating, "Vote for Bibi Netanyahu for Prime Minister, we have to finish the job that we started!" Netanyahu echoed the sentiment, noting the uniqueness of the friendship between the two leaders.
Trump cited an individual named Irving C. Schwartz as a source for his claim, though the identity of that person remains unclear and has been questioned on social media.
(With Reuters inputs)