Trump says he should stay out of Israeli election, but ‘may endorse’ someone eventually

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he intends to stay out of Israel’s October 27 national election, but added that he may endorse a candidate in the future. The remarks come amid swirling speculation regarding a potential endorsement for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump told Fox News, "I think it’s most appropriate for me to stay out of Israeli elections, but I may endorse somebody." The relationship between Trump and Netanyahu has faced tensions in recent months over issues related to Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza. Recent reports suggest that Netanyahu’s poor performance in opinion polls is a factor in Trump’s hesitancy to back him. According to Axios, Netanyahu is in a tight race with his main challenger, Gadi Eisenkot, and his coalition bloc faces challenges in securing a majority to form a government. Meanwhile, opposition figures including Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett have reportedly sent back-channel messages to Trump’s circle urging him to remain neutral in the election.