Despite praise and White House visits, Trump avoids endorsing Netanyahu

United States President Donald Trump has avoided directly endorsing Benjamin Netanyahu in an interview ahead of Israel’s upcoming elections , despite repeatedly heaping praise – and White House visits – on the Israeli prime minister. Trump thrice avoided making an endorsement in an interview with Time magazine published on Thursday, instead pivoting to his own popularity in Israel and actions in support of Israel’s government. The US president was initially asked if the “Israeli people should give Netanyahu another term?” “Well, I can only say that I’m not involved in politics any more, except that we’re popular,” Trump said, claiming “99 percent” popularity in Israel.