Overview
- The comments came during a reporter exchange that was widely shared online and were reported by multiple outlets on Wednesday.
- Trump joked he could run for Israel's prime minister and said he had a poll showing 99% approval, but no poll was named and the White House did not immediately clarify.
- He praised Netanyahu as a 'wartime prime minister' and said Netanyahu would 'do whatever I want him to do,' framing their relationship as unusually close.
- Legal and practical experts noted Israeli law requires Knesset candidates to be Israeli citizens, making an actual U.S. president's candidacy infeasible under current rules.
- The remarks appeared as U.S. and Israeli leaders weigh next steps on Iran, with reporting that some planned strikes were paused to allow diplomatic efforts brokered by Gulf mediators.