‘Sign Of Desperation’: Netanyahu Turns To Trump For More Election Support As Polls Show Coalition Trailing

News world ‘Sign Of Desperation’: Netanyahu Turns To Trump For More Election Support As Polls Show Coalition Trailing

‘Sign Of Desperation’: Netanyahu Turns To Trump For More Election Support As Polls Show Coalition Trailing

Published By :

,

Last Updated: October 25, 2026, 22:22 IST

Netanyahu spoke to Trump twice in the three days before the report and urged him to reinforce his public endorsement of the Israeli leader.

3 Quick Answers

A man holds a placard of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a rally. (AFP file photo)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked US President Donald Trump to step up his public support for his election campaign ahead of Israel’s October 27 polls, as his coalition faces the prospect of falling short of a parliamentary majority.

According to a report by Axios, Netanyahu spoke to Trump twice in the three days before the report and urged him to reinforce his public endorsement of the Israeli leader. A US source familiar with the matter and an Israeli source briefed on the efforts were cited in the report.

The US source said the White House viewed Netanyahu’s lobbying as a “sign of desperation", suggesting that the Israeli prime minister believed he was trailing in the election race.

However, Neta Molcho, a spokesperson for Netanyahu’s Likud party, denied that the prime minister had asked Trump for support “in recent days or before his endorsement statement". The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Netanyahu Seeks Stronger Trump Endorsement

According to Axios, Netanyahu asked Trump to strengthen his endorsement, which was posted on Truth Social last week. The US source said the Israeli prime minister had also suggested wording for further statements of support.

An Israeli source briefed on Netanyahu’s efforts told Axios that he had proposed that Trump speak to Israeli reporters over the phone to express his backing for the campaign.

Trump had said in an interview with Newsmax two weeks ago that people in Israel had asked him to intervene in support of Netanyahu.

After weeks of hesitation, Trump publicly endorsed Netanyahu last Sunday. He also suggested that Netanyahu’s defeat could have consequences for relations between the United States and Israel.

Trump has not worked with an Israeli prime minister other than Netanyahu and does not personally know the other candidates. The two leaders have built a close relationship, although it has often been turbulent.

Netanyahu’s Coalition Trails In Pre-Election Polls

Three major Israeli television networks published their final pre-election polls on Friday, with all three projecting that Netanyahu’s coalition would fall well short of a majority in the 120-member Knesset.

The polls projected 50 seats for Netanyahu’s bloc, 17 fewer than the number held by his current coalition. His Likud party, which currently has 32 seats, was projected to win just 20.

The opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot was projected to secure between 52 and 56 seats. Two Arab Israeli parties were expected to win another 14 to 16 seats.

Channel 11 also projected four seats for a reservists’ party that is not aligned with either bloc.

However, pro-Netanyahu Channel 14 differed from the other networks. In a poll released earlier in the week, it projected 60 seats for Netanyahu’s bloc and 30 for Likud.

Why Trump’s Endorsement Matters

A US official cited by Axios described Trump’s endorsement as a win-win situation for the US president, irrespective of the election outcome.

If Netanyahu wins or continues as caretaker prime minister, Trump could claim credit for helping him politically and use that influence to seek concessions.

If Netanyahu loses and his opponents form a government, Israel’s new leadership would still have reasons to maintain good relations with Washington. In that situation, Trump’s endorsement of Netanyahu’s rival would likely become less significant.

Some of Trump’s advisers, however, see an opportunity to advance his Middle East agenda under an Israeli government led by someone other than Netanyahu.

News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit

Quick Answers Powered by Ask News18 What did pre-election polls project for Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition ahead of the October 27 vote? Final pre-election polls published by three major Israeli television networks projected that Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition would fall well short of a majority in the 120-member Knesset, estimating 50 seats for his bloc. How did US President Donald Trump frame his public endorsement of Benjamin Netanyahu? US President Donald Trump endorsed Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel's parliamentary election, praising his handling of Iran and warning that Israel could face consequences or greater pressure from Washington if it chose a different leader. What did sources tell Axios regarding Benjamin Netanyahu's discussions with Donald Trump before the polls? According to Axios, Netanyahu spoke to Trump twice to urge him to reinforce his public endorsement and propose wording for further statements, a move viewed by a US source as a sign of desperation as his coalition trailed in the polls. Powered by Ask News18

About the Author Shuddhanta Patra Senior Sub-Editor Shuddhanta Patra is an Indian journalist with about nine years of experience in covering national politics, geopolitics, defence, diplomacy and international affairs. Her reporting focuses on South As... Read More

ADD YOUR COMMENT

Location : Israel

First Published: October 25, 2026, 22:22 IST

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...