During a recent interaction with reporters, U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted his perceived popularity in Israel, humorously suggesting that he could potentially run for Prime Minister there. His comments came as he also expressed support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, amidst ongoing tensions with Iran. Trump described Netanyahu as a “wartime prime minister” and a “great guy,” while lamenting that Netanyahu was not being treated justly within his own country.
The exchange, which was captured in videos shared on social media platform X, saw Trump assert his strong approval ratings in Israel, claiming, “I’m right now at 99% in Israel. I could run for prime minister.” He further mused about the possibility of pursuing such a venture after his current political commitments in the United States, adding, “I had a poll this morning. I’m 99%. So that’s good.” Trump also critiqued the leadership structure in Israel, suggesting that President Reuven Rivlin was not treating Netanyahu well.
Trump’s remarks coincided with a significant political development in Israel, where lawmakers were advancing legislation proposed by Netanyahu’s coalition that could result in the dissolution of parliament and possibly lead to new elections. Meanwhile, Trump also addressed the escalating situation with Iran, indicating that the U.S. was nearing a critical juncture. He warned of potentially harsh measures should diplomatic negotiations fail, stating, “We’re in the final stages of Iran. We’ll see what happens,” and noted that the U.S. was preparing to “give this one shot” without rushing the process.
Further commenting on Iran, Trump claimed that the country’s air force and navy had been effectively dismantled and cautioned that future military actions could become more challenging if Tehran did not reach an agreement. Despite the heightened tensions, it was reported that diplomatic discussions between the United States and Iran were still in progress, suggesting a continued effort to resolve the situation through negotiation.