US President Donald Trump on Tuesday left open the possibility of endorsing a candidate in Israel’s upcoming elections, but stopped short of committing to support anyone, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn shortly before boarding Marine One for Joint Base Andrews, where he was scheduled to depart for Alaska, Trump was asked whether he intended to endorse a candidate in the Israeli election.
“We haven’t even thought about it,” the president initially replied.
When a reporter pointed out that he had endorsed political candidates in the past, Trump appeared to leave the door open. “Well, we may be. I may be doing something,” he said, before repeating: “I may be. I may be doing something.”
The exchange came exactly two weeks before Israel’s October 27 election, amid Trump’s close political and personal relationship with Netanyahu. Trump did not mention Netanyahu by name in his response, nor did he identify any other Israeli political figure he might consider supporting.
His remarks nevertheless left open the question of whether he intends to play a role in the final stages of Israel’s election campaign, at a time when an endorsement from the American president could carry significant political weight.
Trump confirms US continuing to share intelligence with Ukraine
On the Russia-Ukraine war, Trump offered an important clarification after newly appointed White House press secretary Katie Zacharia was unable to answer a question earlier Tuesday about whether Washington had stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv.
Asked directly whether the United States had suspended intelligence sharing, Trump responded unequivocally. “No, we haven’t. We help them, but we’re really helping them get to a final answer. We want the war ended, Peter.”
He went on to confirm that American assistance, including intelligence cooperation, was continuing as Washington worked with both sides to negotiate an end to the conflict.
“We want the war to end, so we’re working with them and with Russia on getting the war to end,” he said.
Asked why he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin was interested in ending the war, Trump pointed to his experience in negotiations. “That’s what I’ve done my whole life: is deals,” the president said.
“I think they both want it to end,” he continued, referring to Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “You know, honestly, they both wanted to end, and they don’t know how to get to that point.”
Trump added: “They don’t know how to get there. We’re going to get them there.”
The president also faced questions about Russian attacks and alleged violations of a ceasefire.
He responded by pointing to Ukrainian strikes on Russian targets, saying, “Ukraine hit many sites the day before.”They’re hitting each other. But it’ll all come to an end,” he added.
Trump defends controversial Russian diesel deal
Trump also defended his administration’s controversial decision to facilitate additional Russian diesel supplies to international markets, despite concerns that the resulting revenues could help Moscow finance its war against Ukraine.
Asked whether anyone had assured him that Russia would not use proceeds from the arrangement to purchase weapons, Trump replied: “Nobody told me anything.”
He insisted that the decision was intended to address global energy shortages rather than provide a direct benefit to the United States.
“That’s a diesel deal, not for us. That’s being released into the world. That’s not being released to us,” he said.
“That’s a diesel deal that’s going to be released into the world for the world market because the world market suffered with high prices, and when you knock out diesel refineries, that’s not a great thing.”
Later in the exchange, Trump returned to the subject.
“It’s a deal for the world. It’s not a deal for us. It’s a way of getting a lot of oil out to the world,” he argued.
He maintained that the arrangement had contributed to lower energy prices, while rejecting suggestions that it was primarily a bilateral commercial agreement benefiting Washington.
Trump on Guilfoyle’s removal: ‘I didn’t speak to her, but she will not be there’
Trump also commented publicly on his administration’s decision to seek the resignation of Kimberly Guilfoyle, the US ambassador to Greece, shortly after Zacharia confirmed the move during her first White House press briefing.
Asked about Guilfoyle, who was previously engaged to his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., the president sought to distance her from his family.
“No, she wasn’t a member of my family. She, I guess, dated my son a long time ago,” Trump said.
Although he acknowledged that Guilfoyle had performed well in her diplomatic role, he expressed dissatisfaction with recent reports about her conduct.
“She was doing a good job, but we didn’t like what we were reading,” Trump said.
Asked whether he had personally spoken to Guilfoyle about her departure, he replied: “I didn’t speak to her. No, but she will not be there. I didn’t like what I read.”
The comments followed a series of reports alleging misconduct involving Guilfoyle’s dealings with donors and business figures.
Guilfoyle’s attorneys have denied the allegations against her. The outgoing ambassador has also rejected the claims and said she intends to defend her reputation.
Earlier Tuesday, Zacharia announced during her debut briefing that the administration had formally requested Guilfoyle’s resignation.
“We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign,” Zacharia said. “She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well.”
Trump also offered a favorable assessment of his new press secretary’s first appearance, describing her performance as “very good.”
Trump heads to Alaska as midterm campaign intensifies
The remarks came as Trump continued an intensive campaign tour ahead of the November midterm elections, during which Republicans are seeking to retain control of Congress.
Asked whether it would be more difficult for his party to hold the House or the Senate, Trump suggested the challenges were comparable.
“I would say equal,” he replied.
He argued that the party of a sitting president traditionally faces a significant disadvantage in midterm elections, regardless of the administration’s record.
Nevertheless, Trump maintained that his campaign appearances were generating increased enthusiasm for Republican candidates.
“The level of enthusiasm for the Republican Party is way up, not just where I’m doing them,” he said.
The president said he was traveling to Alaska to campaign for Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, part of a packed schedule of rallies in several states.
“I’m right now going to Alaska to try and help Dan Sullivan, that’s a long way away, and I would only do it if I thought he was good, and he’s very good,” Trump told reporters.
He added that he was holding, on average, one rally every day. “You think that’s easy? It’s not,” Trump said before departing for his next campaign stop.
