Trump's Netanyahu endorsement 'unique and helpful' ahead of Israeli election, former adviser says

US President Donald Trump has backed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to lead the next government, marking the first time an American President has publicly endorsed a candidate in an Israeli election.

The announcement came only a few days after Trump said he had not decided who to back.

Aviv Bushinsky, a former media advisor to Netanyahu, told i24NEWS that the endorsement would serve as "a huge boost to the campaign," because it would shift the debate away from domestic issues less favourable to Netanyahu and towards Iran.

Bushinsky continued, saying the endorsement was "unique and very helpful," to Netanyahu's campaign.

Former US President Bill Clinton revealed that he had worked to support the re-election of Shimon Peres in 1996 through multiple diplomatic conferences aimed at shoring up his support, but did not publicly endorse a candidate as Trump has.

In his announcement, Trump hailed Netanyahu as a "Great Warrior Prime Minister" and said that Netanyahu was the only Israeli leader capable of standing up to Iran.

"This is the kind of Partner that the United States of America is demanding of Israel, a Country for which it has done so much."

However, i24NEWS has learned that some aids close to Trump advised him against the move. The key figure in this matter may well have been John McLaughlin, who serves for both Netanyahu and Trump. It is possible that the data he provided on Israeli public opinion influenced the Trump’s decision.