White House: Trump denies Netanyahu requested second endorsement

President Donald Trump denied on Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested a second public endorsement from the White House ahead of the Israeli general election. The president addressed the question while boarding Air Force One for a trip to a campaign rally in Mississippi. He told reporters, “I never spoke about it.”

Trump maintained that his support for the Israeli leader was already fully expressed. “I put out both endorsements. I put out both,” he said. He characterized Netanyahu’s performance as positive despite difficult circumstances. “I think he’s done a very good job as prime minister under very trying conditions.”

The president’s comments conflict with previous reporting from The Jerusalem Post. US officials told that outlet that Netanyahu had made intensive efforts to persuade the American president to issue another statement of support. The initial endorsement did not produce a major shift in polling data, according to those sources.

Axios reported that the two leaders spoke twice within a three-day period. In those calls, Netanyahu asked Trump to reinforce his public backing. The Israeli prime minister even suggested specific wording for potential new endorsements. He also requested that Trump speak with Israeli journalists to emphasize his support.

The Likud party, Netanyahu’s political party, denied the reports that the prime minister had made such a request to the White House. The denial came as the election campaign intensified in Israel.

During the same press exchange, Trump commented on the recent presidential election in Brazil. Incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeated right-wing candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Trump said he liked Lula and got along with him well.

Despite the personal rapport, Trump criticized the conduct of the Brazilian vote. “I just think it had a very bad look. The election, the way it was tabulated,” he said. He specifically cited a decision by Brazil’s Supreme Court to extend voting by two hours during the second round. The extension followed complaints about public transportation disruptions but created political controversy. Trump called the extension “very strange.”