Huge Wild Card for Netanyahu: Whether Trump Endorses Him

Benjamin Netanyahu's political life is at stake in October's elections, and Axios reports one unanswered question holds enormous stakes: Will President Trump endorse him? With polls showing Netanyahu in clear trouble, Trump has repeatedly declined to endorse the Israeli when pressed by reporters. US officials say Trump likes Netanyahu personally but has grown irritated with his decisions on Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza. In fact, Trump recently called the Israeli leader "his own worst enemy," two insiders tell Axios' Barak Ravid.

Netanyahu's rivals have lobbied Trump via backchannels to stay neutral, according to the story. At Talking Points Memo, Josh Marshall suggests that unless public sentiment in Israel turns around, a Trump endorsement might be a long shot. "Netanyahu's polls look bad," he writes. "And Trump doesn't want to back a loser." One thing in the prime minister's favor: Top rival Gadi Eizenkot of the Israel Defense Forces may be up in the polls, but his party doesn't seem to have enough support to form a new government. That raises the possibility of Netanyahu remaining in power as a caretaker prime minister.