Donald Trump declined to endorse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when pressed in a Time magazine interview, according to Headline USA’s summary of the exchange.
What Trump said
Asked whether Israelis should give Netanyahu another term, Trump replied, “I can only say that I’m not involved in politics anymore,” Headline USA reported from the Time interview.
Trump also said of Netanyahu, “Well, people have written off Bibi many, many times, just like they’ve written off me many, many times. I wouldn’t underestimate Bibi,” according to the same account.
On a rival
Regarding centrist Gadi Eisenkot, described as Netanyahu’s most serious opponent, Trump said, “I don’t hear bad things about him,” per Headline USA’s report on the interview.
Past signals and ties
Headline USA reports that in June, before Eisenkot announced a run, Trump said he would “most likely” endorse Netanyahu but wanted to see who would oppose him. The outlet also notes Netanyahu’s 2019 campaign featured large billboards with Trump’s image, which Trump then highlighted on his social media. Additionally, Headline USA says that last November Trump sent a letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog asking him to pardon Netanyahu and praised him as “a formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister.”
Election timing
Headline USA states that Israelis are set to vote on Oct. 27.
Editor’s note: Several details above are attributed to Headline USA’s account of the Time interview and have not been independently verified by Patriot Nation Press.
