Trump has not endorsed Netanyahu ahead of 27 October Israeli election
With Israel's election set for 27 October, US President Donald Trump has not endorsed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On 13 October Trump said "We haven't even thought about it" but added that "I may be doing something."
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2US President Donald Trump has not endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel's 27 October election. Al JazeeraLC “US president has not endorsed Israeli prime minister ahead of October 27 election amid shifting public sentiment.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Washington ExaminerR “The elections are set for Oct. 27, but Trump has consistently resisted endorsing Netanyahu” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 1Asked by reporters on Tuesday 13 October before travelling to Alaska, Trump said "We haven't even thought about it", according to the Washington Examiner, then added that he may back a candidate: "I may be doing something." Washington ExaminerR ““We haven’t even thought about it,” Trump told reporters Tuesday morning before traveling to Alaska.”““Well, we may be,” Trump said of backing a candidate. “I may be doing something.”” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Mixed · 2In a 75-minute Time interview released earlier this month, Trump dodged questions about an endorsement, which Al Jazeera counts as three times. Trump also said "I wouldn't underestimate Bibi", and, on Netanyahu's main challenger Gadi Eisenkot, "I don't hear bad things." Washington ExaminerR ““Well, people have written off Bibi many, many times, just like they’ve written off me many, many times,” Trump said. “I wouldn’t underestimate Bibi.”” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Al JazeeraLC “The US president thrice dodged a direct endorsement of Netanyahu in a recent Time magazine interview”“On Eisenkot, he conceded, “I don’t hear bad things.”” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
Left · 1Al Jazeera describes the two men's long record: in Trump's first term the US moved its embassy to Jerusalem and recognised Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights, and in the second Trump has hosted Netanyahu at least seven times and called for a pardon in Netanyahu's corruption trial. Al JazeeraLC “Trump moved the US embassy to Jerusalem, recognised Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights, withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal”“Trump has also called for Netanyahu to be pardoned in his ongoing corruption trial, while hosting the Israeli leader at least seven times since returning to the White House last year” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Left · 1Analysts quoted by Al Jazeera offer several explanations for the reticence: the Iran war, a split in the Trump administration with figures such as Vice President JD Vance critical of Netanyahu's role in pushing for a US strike on Iran, and a wider Republican divide ahead of US midterms. Michael Omer-Man of the DAWN think tank said Trump had not abandoned Netanyahu and did not rule out a late US gesture to boost him. Al JazeeraLC ““It’s probably a combination of the Iran war and the split in the Trump administration with people like [Vice President JD Vance], who have come out very much against Netanyahu’s role in pushing for the US to strike Iran,” said Zonszein.”““I don’t think that Trump’s abandoned Netanyahu,” he told Al Jazeera.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Left · 1Omer-Man also said the stakes for Trump may be low, because an Eisenkot government would be unlikely to change much in relations with the US. Al JazeeraLC ““I don’t think we would see a whole lot of change vis-a-vis the US, because there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of friction in the relationship,” he said.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
Left · 1In Israel, an Israeli Democracy Institute poll from June found 44 percent of Jewish Israelis thought Israel's security was a top consideration for Trump, down from 61 percent in March. Al Jazeera reports that Netanyahu has avoided billboards touting his closeness to Trump this cycle and instead features foes such as Hezbollah's Naim Qassem, Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan and New York mayor Zohran Mamdani. Al JazeeraLC “only 44 percent of Jewish Israelis thought Israel’s security was a top consideration for Trump, down from 61 percent in March”“Netanyahu has avoided the billboards boasting his close relationship with Trump this election cycle” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Right · 1The Washington Examiner notes this is the first Israeli election since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks, that the Iran war has soured the leaders' relationship, and that Netanyahu has faced blowback over intelligence and security lapses. It says the lack of an endorsement "does not bode well" for Netanyahu, who has long touted Trump's backing. Washington ExaminerR “comes as the Iran war has soured the relationship between the two leaders”“The lack of Trump endorsement does not bode well for Netanyahu, who has long touted Trump’s backing as part of his appeal.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Analytical feature on Trump's 'hedging', placing the non-endorsement in the context of the long Trump-Netanyahu relationship, US and Israeli politics and the Iran war, built on think-tank analysts.
- Emphasis
- Policy record favouring Netanyahu, administration and Republican splits, Israeli polling, Netanyahu's campaign choices.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Trump's 13 October remarks that he may yet do something are not covered.
- Charged language
- “genocide in Gaza”“decidedly ho-hum”
- For example
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“amid its genocide in Gaza” — Al Jazeera
“Trump has so far taken a decidedly ho-hum approach to the October 27 Israeli election.” — Al Jazeera
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Short news report built on Trump's remarks to reporters, with a conclusion about what the missing endorsement means for Netanyahu.
- Emphasis
- Trump's quotes, including his hint of future involvement, and the weight of 7 October in Israeli voters' decisions.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Little on the administration divisions, Eisenkot or Israeli views of Trump's influence.
- Charged language
- “Hamas terrorist attacks”
- For example
-
“Immediately after, Trump teased that he could wade into the election in the future.” — Washington Examiner
“Hamas terrorist attacks” — Washington Examiner
What every side reports
- Trump has not endorsed Netanyahu before the 27 October Israeli election.
- Trump dodged endorsement questions in a Time interview.
- The Iran war has strained or complicated the Trump-Netanyahu relationship.
Where accounts differ
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What Trump's non-endorsement signals
- Left
- Analysts see deliberate distance driven by the Iran war and administration and Republican divisions, though one says Trump has not abandoned Netanyahu and might still help late on.
- Right
- Trump says he hasn't thought about it but may do something; the outlet says the lack of endorsement does not bode well for Netanyahu.
Donald Trump person
Says he hasn't thought about endorsing Netanyahu but may do something; says Netanyahu should not be underestimated.
““Well, we may be,” Trump said of backing a candidate. “I may be doing something.”” — Washington Examiner
“I wouldn’t underestimate Bibi.” — Washington Examiner
Benjamin Netanyahu person
Seeking reelection; per Al Jazeera, he has avoided Trump-themed billboards and highlights 'his enemies versus his friends'. The coverage quotes no statement from Netanyahu on the endorsement.
“is highlighting “his enemies versus his friends”.” — Al Jazeera
Middle East1 outlet
Al Jazeera treats the issue through the Trump-Netanyahu record, Israeli opinion and regional consequences.
“the perception of Trump’s influence has shifted in Israel” — Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
North America1 outlet
The Washington Examiner centres on Trump's remarks to reporters and what they mean for Netanyahu.
““We haven’t even thought about it,” Trump told reporters Tuesday morning before traveling to Alaska.” — Washington Examiner
Washington Examiner
Left1 article
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Despite long history with Netanyahu, Trump hedges as Israel vote nears
Critical Analytical piece presenting Trump's hedging as shaped by shifting politics and a strained relationship, with a critical view of US support for Israel.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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Trump says he hasn’t thought about endorsing in Israeli elections
Neutral Brief report on Trump's remarks, noting the absence of an endorsement is a poor sign for Netanyahu.
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- 13 Oct 06:40 First Al JazeeraLC Despite long history with Netanyahu, Trump hedges as Israel vote nears
- 13 Oct 17:49 +11h 9m Washington ExaminerR Trump says he hasn’t thought about endorsing in Israeli elections
- 13 Oct 18:02 +11h 22m The Jerusalem PostRC In blow to Netanyahu, Trump again stops short of endorsing candidate in Israeli election
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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