Trump Defies Netanyahu: No Attacks on Iran Ahead of Midterms

By Corsi Donovan

WASHINGTON – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday that the Iranian regime must be toppled once and for all. After reportedly speaking with an Israeli Defense Forces officer at a graduation ceremony, Netanyahu claimed that as long as Iran is still standing, Israel is under an “existential threat”.

“And therefore, there is only one way to remove this threat once and for all: overthrow the regime in Iran, and that is my directive to the IDF, the Mossad, and the security branches,” Netanyahu reportedly said.

And while Netanyahu seemed hopeful in relying on United States President Donald Trump to help him “finish the job”, Trump has declared that there will be no such strikes on Iran ahead of midterms. This comes after Trump’s approval rating drops to new lows, with a current approval rating of only around 34%, according to some polls.

But Trump isn’t the only leader that has elections to consider when making big decisions on the world stage, Netanyahu has become even more bold in his proclamations of demolishing Iran ahead of Israeli elections in which citizens will have the option to elect a new Prime Minister on Oct. 27.

So far the election appears to be close, but with no definitive way to determine the outcome. Although the current 19-year right-wing incumbent, Benjamin Netanyahu, is on trial for corruption charges as it relates to the brutal attacks on the Gaza strip, he seeks to serve another term.

Though no details have been disclosed about the discussion, Netanyahu did meet with Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth earlier this week to discuss offensive and defensive strategies amid growing tensions in the middle east.

Although Trump has publicly endorsed Netanyahu, his endorsement doesn’t come free and clear. Trump heavily implied that his endorsement is dependent upon continued compliance by Netanyahu. However, Vice President JD Vance was more reserved in his endorsements, remaining vague and unclear about his position on the current state of Israel’s leadership as well as the dynamic between Vance and Trump on the topic.

Reports suggest that Netanyahu was preparing to launch large-scale, multi-day strikes to target Iran’s nuclear facilities, power plants, and assets of the Iranian regime. However, “Trump directly opposed and blocked the operation, explicitly pushing back against restarting a major military conflict ahead of the November 2026 U.S. midterm elections,” according to Haaretz.

While Netanyahu was receptive to Trump’s thwarting of the October strike on Iran, Netanyahu reportedly will not wait on Trump for the go-ahead to strike Iran independently if need be.