Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making an urgent appeal to former President Donald Trump for increased public support as he faces a precarious political future ahead of Tuesday’s elections. According to sources with knowledge of the matter and others briefed on the outreach, Netanyahu has grown increasingly aggressive in his lobbying efforts, a development that some in Washington are characterizing as a sign of political desperation.
Netanyahu has reportedly held two phone calls with Trump over the last three days specifically to request that he double down on an endorsement posted to Truth Social last week. In an effort to secure maximum impact, Netanyahu went so far as to suggest specific language for additional statements of support. He also proposed that Trump hold direct calls with Israeli reporters to express his backing for the Prime Minister’s reelection bid.
The Likud party has officially pushed back against these reports. Neta Molcho, a spokesperson for the party, denied that Netanyahu had asked Trump to support his campaign in recent days or prior to the initial endorsement statement. While the White House did not respond to requests for comment regarding the interactions, Trump previously stated in a Newsmax interview two weeks ago that various figures in Israel had asked him to intervene in support of Netanyahu.
This high-stakes outreach comes as Netanyahu’s political standing appears to be wavering. Three major Israeli television networks released their final pre-election polls on Friday, all of which suggest Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition is currently on track to fall well short of a parliamentary majority. The projections from Channels 11, 12, and 13 show Netanyahu’s bloc securing just 50 seats in the 120-member Knesset. This would represent a significant loss of influence, as his current coalition holds 67 seats. His own Likud party, which currently controls 32 seats, is projected to drop to just 20.
In contrast, the opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot is gaining ground, with polls projecting between 52 and 56 seats. Two Arab Israeli parties are expected to hold between 14 and 16 seats, potentially positioning them as kingmakers or spoilers in the post-election negotiations. Additionally, Channel 11 projected that a reservists party, currently unaffiliated with either major bloc, could secure four seats. The only major outlier to this trend is the pro-Netanyahu Channel 14, which earlier this week projected 60 seats for the Prime Minister’s bloc and 30 for Likud.
Trump’s endorsement of Netanyahu last Sunday was a significant development, as the former president warned that a Netanyahu defeat could have negative consequences for the future of U.S.-Israel relations. The two leaders have shared a historically close yet frequently turbulent relationship. Trump, who has not personally worked with any other Israeli prime minister, remains a singular figure in Netanyahu’s foreign policy strategy.
U.S. officials tracking the situation suggest that the endorsement serves as a strategic win-win for Trump regardless of the outcome on Tuesday. If Netanyahu succeeds in staying in power, Trump could use his perceived role in the victory as leverage to press for policy concessions. Conversely, if an opposition government is formed, officials believe the new leaders would still have every incentive to maintain strong ties with Trump, effectively making his support for Netanyahu a minor historical footnote. Some of Trump’s own advisers have even suggested that a change in the Israeli government might create new openings for his broader Middle East agenda.
As the election draws near, the Prime Minister’s reliance on American political influence highlights the narrow path he faces to retain his leadership. With the Knesset divided and the opposition gaining momentum, the coming days will determine whether Netanyahu’s last-minute lobbying of his American ally can reverse the current polling trends.
