Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged President Donald Trump to ramp up public support for his campaign ahead of Tuesday's tight election, according to a U.S. source with knowledge and an Israeli source briefed on the matter, a move the White House sees as a sign of desperation and an indication that Netanyahu believes he is losing.
A U.S. source told Axios that Netanyahu spoke with Trump twice in the last three days, asking him to expand on a Truth Social endorsement last week. The source said Netanyahu even suggested language for additional statements and proposed that Trump hold calls with Israeli reporters to express support.
Neta Molcho, a spokesperson for Netanyahu's Likud party, denied the prime minister had asked Trump to support his campaign "in recent days or before his endorsement statement." The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
Trump endorsed Netanyahu last Sunday after weeks of hesitation, suggesting that a defeat for the Israeli leader would affect U.S.-Israel relations. The two have forged a close but often turbulent relationship; Trump has never worked with another Israeli prime minister.
Three major Israeli television networks released final pre-election polls Friday showing Netanyahu's coalition falling well short of a parliamentary majority, with all three projecting just 50 seats for his bloc in the 120-member Knesset, 17 fewer than he currently holds. Likud was projected to win 20 seats, down from 32. Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot's opposition bloc was forecast to win between 52 and 56 seats, with Arab Israeli parties taking 14 to 16. Channel 11 also projected four seats for a reservists party. Pro-Netanyahu Channel 14 was a major outlier, giving Netanyahu's bloc 60 seats and Likud 30.
A U.S. official said the endorsement was a win-win for Trump: if Netanyahu wins or remains caretaker prime minister, Trump could claim credit and gain leverage; if Netanyahu loses, Israel's new leaders would still have incentive for good relations. Some of Trump's advisers, however, see opportunity in an alternative government for his Middle East agenda.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- A Netanyahu loss could reshape U.S.-Israel dynamics and Trump's leverage in the region.
- The election outcome will determine the stability of the Israeli government and its approach to relations with Washington.
- Trump's endorsement and its impact will be closely watched as a test of his influence abroad.
Background
The election is set for Tuesday. Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, is fighting for political survival amid ongoing corruption trials and a deeply divided electorate. He has relied heavily on his relationship with Trump, with whom he has worked closely for years. His coalition currently holds 67 seats but the opposition, led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, has gained ground. The Knesset has 120 seats.
Key Perspectives
U.S. source: described Netanyahu's lobbying as a "sign of desperation" and an indication that the Israeli leader thinks he's trailing.
Likud party spokesperson Neta Molcho: denied that the prime minister asked Trump to support his campaign "in recent days or before his endorsement statement."
A U.S. official: said the endorsement was a win-win for Trump regardless of the outcome.
Some of Trump's advisers: see opportunity for the president's Middle East agenda in a government led by someone other than Netanyahu.
What to Watch
- Tuesday's election results, particularly the final seat count for Netanyahu's bloc and the opposition.
- Trump's next public statement or social media post on the election.
- Whether Netanyahu attempts to form a government as caretaker leader if his coalition falls short.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedNetanyahu is pressing Trump for more campaign support ahead of a tight Tuesday election, according to sources.Axios: “Netanyahu — fighting for political survival in Tuesday's elections — has pleaded with President Trump in recent days to show more public support for his campaign, according to a U.S. source with knowledge and an Israeli source briefed on the matter.”
- SupportedThe White House sees Netanyahu's lobbying as a sign of desperation, while polls show his coalition trailing.Axios: “The U.S. source said the White House sees Netanyahu's aggressive lobbying as a "sign of desperation" and an indication that the Israeli leader thinks he's trailing.”
- SupportedNetanyahu urged Trump to increase public support for his campaign ahead of Tuesday's election, according to two sources.Axios: “Netanyahu — fighting for political survival in Tuesday's elections — has pleaded with President Trump in recent days to show more public support for his campaign, according to a U.S. source with knowledge and an Israeli source briefed on the matter.”
- SupportedNetanyahu spoke with Trump twice in the last three days and asked him to expand on his endorsement post.Axios: “The U.S. source said Netanyahu spoke with Trump twice in the last three days and asked him to double down on his Truth Social post last week endorsing him.”
- Partly supportedNetanyahu suggested language for more statements and proposed that Trump call Israeli reporters, with both requests attributed to the U.S. source.Axios: “The source said Netanyahu even suggested language for additional statements of support. An Israeli source briefed on Netanyahu's efforts said the Israeli prime minister proposed that Trump hold calls with Israeli reporters to express further support.”
- SupportedLikud spokesperson Neta Molcho denied that Netanyahu had asked Trump for campaign support "in recent days or before his endorsement statement."Axios: “Neta Molcho a spokesperson for Netanyahu's Likud party, denied the prime minister asked Trump to support his campaign "in recent days or before his endorsement statement."”
- SupportedTrump endorsed Netanyahu last Sunday after weeks of hesitation and suggested Netanyahu's defeat would affect U.S.-Israel relations.Axios: “After weeks of hesitation, Trump endorsed Netanyahu last Sunday. He went so far as to suggest his defeat would have consequences for U.S.-Israel relations.”
- Partly supportedThe three networks projected 50 seats for Netanyahu's bloc in the 120-member Knesset, 17 fewer than it currently holds.Axios: “All three projected just 50 seats for Netanyahu's bloc in the 120-member Knesset — 17 fewer than his current coalition holds.”
- SupportedLikud was projected to win 20 seats, down from 32.Axios: “His Likud party, which currently holds 32 seats, was projected to win just 20.”
- SupportedThe polls forecast 52 to 56 seats for Gadi Eisenkot's opposition bloc and 14 to 16 for Arab Israeli parties.Axios: “The polls gave former military chief Gadi Eisenkot's opposition bloc between 52 and 56 seats, with another 14 to 16 going to two Arab Israeli parties.”
- SupportedChannel 14 was a major outlier, projecting 60 seats for Netanyahu's bloc and 30 for Likud.Axios: “Pro-Netanyahu Channel 14 was the major outlier, projecting 60 seats for his bloc and 30 for Likud in a poll earlier this week.”
- SupportedA U.S. official described Trump's endorsement as a win-win: Trump could claim credit and gain leverage if Netanyahu won or stayed caretaker prime minister, while Israel's new leaders would still have reason to cultivate good relations if he lost.Axios: “One U.S. official described the endorsement as a win-win for Trump, regardless of the outcome. If Netanyahu wins — or remains in power as a caretaker prime minister — Trump could claim credit for rescuing him politically and use that leverage to press for concessions.”