US President Donald Trump told Israel's Channel 12 shortly after issuing his public endorsement of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the upcoming elections that he had always intended to back him. "I didn't want to do it too early," he said.
"I decided to endorse Netanyahu because we have a good relationship, and because we're going to continue doing good things together," Trump said in the interview.
Asked whether that means he would be unable to work with a different Israeli prime minister, Trump replied: "Maybe I could work with someone else and maybe I couldn't. Why take a risk?!"
"Full and complete endorsement"
Earlier, Trump had released a statement calling Netanyahu "a great wartime prime minister, and an even greater partner for peace in the fight against the Islamic Republic of Iran." He warned that if Israel had "the wrong leader, meaning anyone other than Bibi, America would have to do this work itself, and I have no inclination to do that."
Trump continued: "I have watched Bibi during the most difficult times. Ordinary men and women would collapse under the pressure in such situations, but Bibi did not collapse. In fact, he only grew stronger, and he maintains that same strength today."
The president concluded his letter: "Please consider this letter my full and complete endorsement of Benjamin Netanyahu in his upcoming race for re-election as Prime Minister of Israel."
