Donald Trump surprised many people on Wednesday when he joked that he could run for prime minister of Israel. During a conversation with reporters, he claimed his approval rating in the country is an astonishing “99%.” Trump made the comments while speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews before leaving for Connecticut to attend a Coast Guard graduation ceremony.
Donald Trump jokes he could run for Israeli PM, claims 99% approval in new interview
As questions turned toward the Middle East and tensions involving Iran and Israel, Donald Trump suddenly began praising his popularity among Israelis. “I’m right now at 99% in Israel. I could run for Prime Minister, so maybe after I do this, I’ll go to Israel, run for Prime Minister,” Trump said. He added, “I had a poll this morning. I’m 99%, so that’s good.”
Trump did not specify which poll he was referring to, and no public survey showing approval numbers anywhere near that figure immediately surfaced. His comments came as his approval ratings in the United States reportedly continue to fall. A recent The New York Times/Siena poll reportedly showed Trump with a 37% approval rating, one of the lowest of his current term.
The ongoing conflict involving Iran has reportedly become a major concern for voters, with criticism coming from both political opponents and some longtime supporters over how the administration handled rising tensions in the region. Still, Donald Trump appeared positive while talking about Israel and repeatedly highlighted his close relationship with Israeli leaders.
Trump also spoke about Benjamin Netanyahu. He suggested Netanyahu holds enormous influence over the Israeli prime minister. Asked how long Netanyahu might delay further military strikes against Iran, Trump confidently replied, “He’s fine. He’ll do whatever I want him to do.” Trump then doubled down on the statement moments later. “He’s a very good man,” the president said. “He’ll do whatever I want him to do. He’s a great guy. To me, he’s a great guy,” Trump concluded.
