The Media Line: President Trump Says His Endorsement ‘Turned the Whole Tide’ for Netanyahu in Israeli Election  

President Trump Says His Endorsement ‘Turned the Whole Tide’ for Netanyahu in Israeli Election  

By The Media Line Staff  

President Donald Trump said his endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu helped boost the Likud leader’s showing in Tuesday’s Israeli elections, declaring that his intervention “turned the whole tide.”  

Speaking near Air Force One after a trip to Texas, President Trump said Netanyahu had performed better than expected and disputed the exit polls. “When the endorsement went out, it helped him a lot.”  

With more than 76% of ballots counted as of Wednesday morning, the pro-Netanyahu bloc stood at 54 seats, compared with 47 for the Eisenkot-led bloc and 19 for the Arab parties. The Netanyahu bloc remained short of the 61 seats needed to form a government.  

Tuesday’s exit polls had produced no clear winner. While they showed Likud as the largest party, they put the anti-Netanyahu coalition ahead.  

President Trump also reposted a comment on X from Canadian businessman Irving C. Schwartz crediting his endorsement with Netanyahu’s performance.  

“When President Trump endorsed Bibi Netanyahu, the whole tide turned, and now, rather than a decisive defeat for a Great Prime Minister, it looks like a big come-from-behind stalemate, or even a WIN for Netanyahu.”  

The post continued, “It all took place AFTER the Endorsement by President Trump, who only wants what is good for the Middle East, Israel, and the United States of America!”  

President Trump had directly appealed to Israeli voters on Sunday to back Netanyahu, repeating an endorsement he said he had issued one week earlier and describing their relationship as one of “winning together.”  

He cited Operation Midnight Hammer, which he said prevented Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, along with Operation Epic Fury. President Trump said Iran now has “No Navy, No Air Force” and described its military and economy as “in shambles.”  

“When you go to the Polls please remember that Bibi has been an outstanding Warrior Prime Minister!” Trump wrote.  

He concluded: “Vote for Bibi Netanyahu for Prime Minister, we have to finish the job that we started.”  

Netanyahu earlier Sunday posted an AI-generated image showing Tel Aviv under attack by an Iranian nuclear bomb. The accompanying campaign message indicated that operations against the Iranian regime under his leadership could prevent such a catastrophe.  

Israeli President Isaac Herzog told MSNow on Sunday that he would base decisions within his authority on the facts rather than bow to pressure from President Trump in a way that would favor Netanyahu.  

Although Israel’s presidency is mainly ceremonial, Herzog can decide which political party gets the first opportunity to form a government.