How Donald Trump Once Helped Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu Win Elections

When the US bombed Iran's underground nuclear enrichment facilities last week, the world saw a military escalation. But beneath the smoke and flash was a political alliance decades in the making, with roots in a shared vision of power.

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's friendship has become one of the most consequential partnerships in modern Middle Eastern history.

"We worked as a team. Like perhaps no team has ever worked before," Trump said Saturday, addressing the nation for the first time since the US joined Israel's campaign against Iran.

A senior White House official confirmed Trump spoke with Netanyahu "almost every day" since Israel launched its initial strike, and that Trump gave Netanyahu a heads-up about the US strike, even when his own Congress didn't know.

Both men rose to prominence in overlapping eras, often mirroring each other's rhetoric. They had always been friends but their alliance deepened five years ago.

When Netanyahu Sought Trump's Help

Back in 2020, Benjamin Netanyahu was on the edge. He was facing indictment on corruption charges and teetering in the polls.

His right-wing Likud party had just stumbled in a series of elections, and the prime minister was on the brink of being ousted.

That's when Trump's inner circle landed in Jerusalem.

Susie Wiles, Corey Lewandowski, and Tony Fabrizio, Trump's campaign 'A-team', set up shop at the Leonardo Plaza Hotel. Netanyahu's staff had asked for help, and Trump delivered.

"If the campaign of 2016 taught us anything, it's how to mobilise a base... So just a few hours after we touched down in Israel, that's exactly what we did," Lewandowski later wrote in the book titled 'Trump: America First: The President Succeeds Against All Odds.'

They revamped Netanyahu's events into Trump-style rallies, loud, theatrical, and centered on the man. The effort was short-lived. Likud couldn't afford the team. But it became clear that Trump would go to great lengths for his ally.

"President Trump and Bibi worked closely on a lot of things. They were strong allies," said a person familiar with the visit, as per The Washington Post.

Though Netanyahu didn't win an outright majority, he remained in power through a unity deal with rival Benny Gantz, allowing him to stay on as prime minister. 

This alignment shaped the first Trump administration's Middle East policies. Trump formally recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moved the US Embassy there, actions Netanyahu had long sought.

How US Followed Israel To War

Fast forward to 2025, with Netanyahu once again taking aggressive military action and Trump back in the Oval Office, the rhythms are familiar. The US has followed Israel into a dangerous, escalating war with Iran.

While Trump previously dangled the possibility of a diplomatic solution, he ultimately acted, reportedly in part to avoid appearing "caught off guard" if Israel struck with or without US involvement. According to Reuters, "By the time Trump talked to Netanyahu on Monday, June 9... his stance was one of tacit, if not explicit approval."

"Trump called Netanyahu soon after the US attacks," a senior White House official said. The communication line between the two leaders has remained open ever since.

By Monday, Trump reportedly brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.