US President Donald Trump has said he may consider running for the post of prime minister in Israel in the future.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday ahead of a graduation ceremony at the United States Coast Guard Academy, Trump remarked that he could seek Israel’s top political office after completing his responsibilities in the United States, claiming he enjoys overwhelming popularity there.
“So maybe after I finish my job here, I’ll go to Israel and run for prime minister. I saw a poll this morning showing I have a 99 percent approval rating there, so that’s pretty good,” Trump said.
However, it remains unclear which opinion poll Trump was referring to. According to USA Today, the White House did not immediately respond to requests for clarification on the matter.
Benjamin Netanyahu is currently serving as Israel’s prime minister and has held the position in multiple terms since 1996. Amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel have continued to act as close allies, with Trump remaining a strong supporter of Netanyahu from the outset.
When asked whether he had recently spoken with Netanyahu regarding the Iran situation, Trump replied, “He’s doing fine. He’s a very good man. He’ll do whatever I ask. He’s a terrific person. I think highly of him.”
Trump made the remarks on May 20. A day earlier, he had said he was considering another major strike against Iran, while two days before that he stated a potential attack had been delayed due to progress toward a possible agreement aimed at ending the conflict.
Commenting further on Netanyahu, Trump said, “People forget he’s a wartime prime minister. In my opinion, he is not properly appreciated in Israel. I don’t think he’s getting the respect he deserves.”
Source: USA Today