Trump cites 67-member mandate as he calls Israeli rivals 'very similar' in policy

The post-election political landscape in Israel has entered a new phase, with US President Donald Trump entering the fray to weigh in on the leadership contest between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump described the two rivals as possessing "very similar views" and suggested that either leader would strongly support his administration's policies.

Trump’s comments came after President Isaac Herzog formally tasked Eisenkot with forming Israel’s next government. Eisenkot received recommendations from factions representing 67 Knesset members, a number that exceeded the 46 recommendations received by Netanyahu. Following the October 27 election, in which Netanyahu’s governing bloc failed to secure a parliamentary majority, Eisenkot now has 28 days to assemble a coalition. He may seek an extension of 14 additional days if he fails to secure a majority within the initial period.

The president indicated a level of warmth toward Eisenkot, noting that the former military chief had spoken highly of him. "He says he loves Trump, but I don’t know. I haven’t seen what’s happening," Trump said. Despite this apparent endorsement, Trump stopped short of declaring a definitive preference, emphasizing that both leaders were "strong on what I do." This stance stands in contrast to his previous public endorsement of Netanyahu ahead of the recent election.

Beyond Israeli politics, the president dedicated significant time to defending the US military campaign against Iran. He asserted that the United States had already achieved victory by destroying Iran’s nuclear capabilities. "We hit them with the B-2 bombers," Trump said, referring to the strategic bombers used in strikes against Iranian facilities. He argued that these actions prevented Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, which he described as an existential threat to Israel and the region. "If they would have had it, there would be no Israel right now," he claimed.

Trump detailed a new effort to restrict Iranian supply routes, referring to "Operation Iron Gate." He stated that this initiative, combined with an existing naval blockade, is "choking off" Iran’s ability to move advanced weapons, dual-use technologies, and sanctioned materials. US Central Command announced on Saturday that Adm. Brad Cooper had ordered the formation of Task Force Iron Gate. This roughly 20-person military and civilian team is based in Tampa, Florida, and will coordinate with other government agencies to monitor movement across Iran’s land borders and the Caspian Sea.

The president cited economic pressure as a key component of his strategy, claiming that Iran was suffering from 301 percent inflation and was unable to pay its soldiers and guards. He did not provide supporting data for these figures during the exchange. Trump warned that if negotiations failed, he could order a more destructive campaign targeting bridges and power plants. He noted that such infrastructure would take 10 to 15 years to rebuild, a timeline he described as a heavy burden on the Iranian population.

Addressing concerns over the location of Iranian nuclear materials, Trump stated that US surveillance had not observed any recent movement. He specifically mentioned Pickaxe Mountain, a fortified site associated with Iran’s nuclear program, saying, "We never hit Pickaxe because there was no activity there." His remarks followed a new US government reward offer of up to $20 million for information regarding Iran’s nuclear program, including facilities and personnel.

The president also defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth against impeachment efforts driven by Democratic lawmakers. Trump argued that Hegseth had overseen successful military campaigns in Venezuela and Iran, resulting in the elimination of nuclear threats. "Pete Hegseth, so he wins two wars," Trump said. He claimed that 18 American service members had died across the conflicts he cited, while stating that no troops had been lost in recent months.

In response to questions about Vice President JD Vance’s criticism of the Iran war, Trump said their relationship was undamaged. "He was right," Trump admitted, referencing Vance’s argument that the conflict contributed to the Republican Party’s defeat in the midterm elections. However, Trump emphasized that he would make the same decision again, calling it one of the best things the United States had ever done. He suggested that a potential three-way meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping during an upcoming trip to China could include discussions on denuclearization, though no final announcement has confirmed the summit.