Trump urges Israelis to re-elect Netanyahu; says ‘we have to finish the job’ against Iran

US President Donald Trump has made another direct appeal to Israeli voters to return Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to power, invoking their joint military campaign against Iran and declaring that the two leaders must 'finish the job' they started.

In a new Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump reiterated his endorsement of Netanyahu ahead of Tuesday’s election, urging Israelis to back the incumbent and praising him as an 'outstanding warrior prime minister'.

The latest intervention came a week after Trump first publicly endorsed Netanyahu and followed reports that the Israeli premier had sought another public show of support from the US president.

The renewed backing comes at a challenging moment for Netanyahu, whose coalition, according to repeated opinion polls, remains well short of a parliamentary majority.

Addressing Israeli voters, Trump attached his earlier endorsement to the new post, saying he and Netanyahu had worked successfully together against their common adversaries.

'As everyone is aware, including the enemy, Bibi and I have had a great relationship in winning together,' Trump wrote.

He went on to cite a series of military operations, including the US attack in Venezuela, Operation Midnight Hammer and Operation Epic Fury, while claiming that Iran had been severely weakened militarily and economically.

Trump asserted that Iran no longer had a navy or an air force and that its military and economy were in disarray.

He also claimed the country’s inflation rate had reached 301 per cent, adding that a naval blockade had prevented it from obtaining oil and that two levels of its leadership, military and otherwise, had been eliminated.

Trump invokes Iran in appeal to Israeli electorate

Seeking to frame Netanyahu’s leadership as central to the confrontation with Tehran, Trump urged Israelis to remember the Prime Minister’s record when casting their votes.

He referred to Iran’s long-standing anti-American and anti-Israeli rhetoric, saying the United States and Israel had been branded the 'big satan' and 'little satan' by what he described as evil forces.

'There can no longer be the chant heard around the world of ‘Death to America, death to Israel,’ and there won’t be,' Trump wrote, before urging voters to support Netanyahu. 'We have to finish the job that we started!' he added.

Netanyahu and his allies welcomed Trump’s initial endorsement, while the Israeli premier’s political opponents maintained that, despite their respect for the American president, the choice of Israel’s leadership rested with Israeli voters.

Trump-Netanyahu ties have seen tensions

Trump’s latest intervention also comes against the backdrop of reported strains in the relationship between the two leaders over the course of the conflict with Iran.

Media reports had previously suggested that Trump was frustrated with Netanyahu over what were described as overly optimistic expectations of securing a swift victory against Tehran at the beginning of the year. Those expectations, according to the reports, did not materialise.

Tensions reportedly increased after Washington moved to halt its military campaign against Iran and pursue an agreement, a course that Israel viewed with concern over the potential implications for its national security.

In June, Trump’s frustration with Netanyahu reportedly intensified as continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon complicated diplomatic efforts involving Iran.

During that period, the US president confirmed reports that he had used profanity while criticising the Israeli prime minister during a telephone conversation.

Trump said at the time he would most likely endorse Netanyahu’s re-election bid, though he wanted to see who else entered the race before deciding.

The latest endorsement marks a renewed and more explicit show of support from Washington at a politically consequential moment for Netanyahu, as his coalition struggles to demonstrate a path to a majority and the confrontation with Iran remains central to the political narrative.