US-Israel Relations: Trump Disputes Reports of Second Endorsement Request

President Donald Trump denied on Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked him for a second public endorsement ahead of the upcoming Israeli elections. While boarding Air Force One for a trip to Mississippi, the president told reporters he had not discussed the matter. He stated, 'I never spoke about it,' while confirming he had already issued two endorsements. Trump added that he believed Netanyahu had done a very good job under trying conditions.

This public statement stands in contrast to information provided to The Jerusalem Post by US officials. Those officials described intensive efforts by Netanyahu to persuade Trump to issue another statement of support. The push for additional backing came after the initial endorsement failed to shift the polls significantly. Axios also reported that the two leaders spoke twice within three days. During those calls, Netanyahu reportedly suggested specific wording for new endorsements and requested that Trump speak with Israeli journalists to emphasize his support.

The timeline of these interactions began with Trump’s initial endorsements. Following those statements, the Israeli prime minister reportedly lobbied for more. The Likud party, Netanyahu’s political group, denied the reports that the prime minister had requested further endorsement from the US president. The disagreement between the White House narrative and the reporting from Axios and the Jerusalem Post leaves the details of the request unclear, though the president’s direct comments suggest he views the matter as settled.

During the same interview session, Trump addressed the recent presidential election in Brazil. Incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeated Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. When asked if the US would take action regarding the results, Trump said, 'I’m not running Brazil. I’m running the USA.' He expressed a personal fondness for Lula, noting that they get along well. However, he criticized the conduct of the vote counting.

Trump described the election tabulation as having a very bad look. He specifically pointed to a decision by Brazil’s Supreme Court to extend voting by two hours during the second round. That extension was granted following complaints about disruptions to public transportation but sparked political controversy in Brazil. The US president called that extension very strange.

The next scheduled step for Trump is a campaign rally in Mississippi. The Israeli election is approaching, with polls currently tight. No further public statements from the White House regarding the endorsement dispute were announced at the time of boarding. The Likud party’s denial of the request stands as the current official position from Netanyahu’s side, while Trump’s denial stands as the current official position from the US side.