Trump’s Endorsement of Netanyahu: Worth One Seat?
Cited in POLITICO · October 21, 2026
Executive Summary
Michael Oren is cited in POLITICO’s report on President Trump’s last-minute endorsement of Prime Minister Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s October 27 election. With polls showing Netanyahu’s bloc well short of a majority, Oren assessed that the endorsement might add a single seat and came too late to reshape the race.
- One Seat at Most: Oren estimated the endorsement could gain Netanyahu one additional Knesset seat, adding that it “would have had a bigger impact six or seven months ago.”
- The Iran Factor: He tied the limited effect to Israeli dissatisfaction with how the U.S. war against Iran ended.
- Vance’s Non-Endorsement: Oren predicted JD Vance’s refusal to endorse would not affect Israeli voters, but accused the vice president of a double standard after he rallied with Viktor Orban in Budapest. “One does not get the sense that he is a tremendous fan of Netanyahu,” Oren said.
- The Polling Picture: POLITICO reports that recent surveys put Netanyahu’s bloc between 48 and 51 seats, short of the 61 needed to govern, even as Trump remains highly popular among Jewish Israelis.
Article: “Trump throws Netanyahu a last-minute lifeline. It may not be enough.”
Reporter: Jan Philipp Burgard, POLITICO, Tel Aviv.
Official source: POLITICO. The article also includes other analysts, some more and some less bullish on the endorsement’s impact.
Reporter: Jan Philipp Burgard, POLITICO, Tel Aviv.
Official source: POLITICO. The article also includes other analysts, some more and some less bullish on the endorsement’s impact.
Source: POLITICO View on POLITICO →
