Trump Endorses Netanyahu for Israeli Election While France Burns and Iran Threatens the US

President Trump issued a full-throated endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Truth Social on October 18, calling him "Strong, Brave, and Brilliant" and declaring that any other Israeli leader would force America to complete the mission against Iran alone. Trump said he "always intended" to back Netanyahu but waited to avoid acting too soon, telling Israeli outlet N12: "Maybe I could work with another candidate, maybe not. But why should I take that risk?" Several of Trump's closest advisers had pushed back against the public endorsement, but Trump proceeded anyway. Netanyahu responded by declaring that "only the two of us will destroy the Iranian nuclear program" and thanked Trump for his "tremendous support," saying they would get the job done "together."

The endorsement comes ten days before Israel's October 27 election, in which Netanyahu faces a tight race. Speaking at the presentation of Israel's new security doctrine, Netanyahu outlined an expansive security agenda: eliminating Hamas and Hezbollah capabilities, establishing buffer zones on all borders including Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Gaza, expanding domestic weapons production, and moving defense facilities underground. He named a wide array of figures he said want him to lose, including Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, Turkish President Erdogan and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. He also acknowledged the US-Israeli relationship could face strain within two years if hostile candidates win American elections, and said Israel must seek alternative alliances.

Trump simultaneously issued a stark warning to Iran, writing that if Iran does not change its approach quickly, "we will complete the mission against it soon." Iran's newly confirmed defense minister, Mehrdad Akhlaghi, who replaced a predecessor reportedly killed on the first day of the US-Iran war, responded aggressively, threatening "enormous damage" to the United States and its allies if Washington resumes military operations. Akhlaghi told reporters Iran is building new defense factories inside mountains and secure facilities, and said Trump "should be thinking about getting his people out of our region safely." Iran's foreign minister separately said Tehran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within six days remains on the table, contingent on US compliance with Iranian conditions.

France descended into acute crisis, with Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reporting more than 1,800 arrests nationwide and over 500 injured emergency personnel following protests that began around education policy and spread into widespread arson and looting. Police in Paris alone detained 855 people. A major fire caused extensive damage to the historic Limoges City Hall. French journalist Paul Amar reported significant indications that rioting in Marseille deliberately targeted Jewish-owned businesses while avoiding Islamic-owned ones. President Macron, facing what France 24 described as a country "left reeling" as if after a war, planned to address the nation Sunday night, while his government weighed a possible state of emergency and curfew. Macron also departed France for a Gulf diplomatic tour, a move that drew criticism given the scale of domestic unrest. Trump weighed in from Washington, declaring "France is burning" and urging Paris to close its borders and take control "before it is too late," blaming immigration for the violence.

On Ukraine, Secretary of State Rubio said Trump will take up to 60 days to assess whether to waive Graham Act sanctions on Russia, which would trigger tariffs on Russian goods and penalties on buyers of Russian oil and gas. Trump announced Russia will initially supply more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel to the United States, a deal he called "good for the country and good for the world" despite bipartisan backlash. Treasury Secretary Bessent clarified that no broader sanctions were lifted, only the diesel embargo. Ukraine struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg in what Russian state media called one of the year's largest drone attacks. Zelensky warned that if the US officially sides with Russia, Ukraine "will not be able to stand," while separately telling US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner of Ukraine's position. Bessent called Zelensky's claim that the US slowed Starlink access "very reckless." A Lebanese military delegation is set to travel to Tampa on October 20 for US-backed talks with Israel, with a framework linking Hezbollah disarmament to Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory on the table.