“A slap before the Israeli elections.” Trump regarding his trust in Netanyahu: I do not trust anyone

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US President Donald Trump raised new political questions about his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after he responded with a striking phrase to a direct question about the extent of his trust in him, saying: “Frankly, I do not trust anyone... In the world of politics, I do not trust anyone,” in a statement that came days before the Israeli elections scheduled for October 27, and observers considered it a “slap to Netanyahu” ahead of a crucial date.

Trump's statements came during an interview with the American "Newsmax" network, on Thursday, when the broadcaster asked him whether he trusted Netanyahu. He responded with a general answer that did not target the Israeli prime minister by name, but it re-shed light on the nature of the relationship between the two men at a sensitive political stage.

Interest in the statement was not limited to its phrase related to trust, as it comes at a time when Trump is avoiding declaring explicit support for Netanyahu’s re-election, despite the latter repeatedly stressing the importance of his relationship with the American president in the Israeli political scene.

When Trump was asked whether he intended to participate in Netanyahu's election campaign, he indicated that Israeli officials wanted his intervention, but he did not announce a commitment to participate or provide direct electoral support.

On the other hand, the US President was keen to stress that his relationship with Netanyahu is very good, praising what he described as the successful military partnership between the United States and Israel, especially in the context of the confrontation with Iran.

Observers believe that the combination of praising the bilateral relationship and abstaining from supporting Netanyahu electorally reveals the necessity of distinguishing between the continuation of strategic cooperation and the position on the prime minister’s political future, as the first was confirmed by Trump, while the second was left undecided.

These developments come before the Israeli elections on October 27, amid interest in Washington's position on the political competition inside Israel. Trump's position may constitute an important factor in the electoral debate, given the presence of his relationship with Netanyahu in Israeli political discourse.