Trump says he 'may be doing something' on Israel's October 27 election

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, October 13, that he had given no thought to endorsing a candidate in Israel's upcoming election, but did not rule out doing so. The Times of Israel reported that Trump made the remarks at a press gaggle when a reporter asked why he had not yet made an endorsement ahead of the October 27 vote.

Trump told reporters "we haven't even thought about it," before adding that he "may be doing something," according to the Times of Israel. Haaretz carried the same quotation, describing it as a response to a question about the absence of an endorsement. Two Hebrew-language news channels on Telegram, Abu Ali Express and News.co.il, also relayed the comment, with Abu Ali Express rendering Trump as saying he had not thought at all about the elections in Israel and might do something on the matter.

What Trump said, and where

The remark came on the same day Trump was photographed walking to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, according to a photo caption published by the Times of Israel. The reports describe the setting as an informal exchange with journalists, known in Washington as a press gaggle, rather than a prepared statement or a written post.

The comment itself was brief. Trump did not name any Israeli politician, did not indicate which party or leader he might favour, and did not say what form "something" might take. All five reports agree on the substance of the quotation, with only small differences in translation between the English and Hebrew versions.

A pattern of reticence

This was not the first time the question had been put to Trump. The Times of Israel noted that he has stayed coy on previous occasions when asked whether he would weigh in on what the outlet called a closely fought race. The Jerusalem Post framed Tuesday's remarks as Trump once again stopping short of an endorsement, and characterised that as a blow to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Jerusalem Post illustrated its report with a photograph of Trump and Netanyahu meeting in the Oval Office on April 7, 2025.

The outlets differ in emphasis. The Jerusalem Post read the non-endorsement as a setback for Netanyahu, while the Times of Israel and Haaretz highlighted Trump's statement that he might yet act. The Hebrew Telegram channels relayed the quote without characterising it either way. Trump's words are open to both readings: he said he had not considered the matter, and in the same breath that he might do something.

Why an endorsement would matter

Israel elects its parliament, the Knesset, and governments are formed by coalitions of parties. A sitting American president openly backing one side in another democracy's national election would be an unusual step. For an international audience, the significance lies in the closeness of the relationship between Washington and Jerusalem and in the attention Israeli voters and politicians pay to signals from the White House. The question of whether Trump will take a side has been put to him repeatedly as the campaign has progressed, according to the Times of Israel.

The Jerusalem Post's framing suggests that, in its reading, Netanyahu would be the expected beneficiary of any Trump endorsement, which is why its absence was described as a blow to him. The other reports do not make that assessment, and none of them quotes Netanyahu or his rivals responding to Trump's remarks.

What the reports do not say

None of the reports explains what Trump meant by "something", whether an endorsement, a statement, or another kind of intervention. None indicates a timeline, beyond the fact that the election is set for October 27. The reports do not include any reaction from Netanyahu's office, from opposition figures, or from the White House beyond Trump's own words. The Jerusalem Post's description of the remarks as a blow to Netanyahu is that outlet's characterisation; the available portion of its report does not set out the reasoning, and the other outlets do not echo it. It is also not stated which reporter asked the question or what follow-up, if any, Trump was asked.