‘I will not step on that landmine’: Benjamin Netanyahu refuses to endorse his ex-ally Trump for 2024 and promises to ‘negotiate’ with everyone who is in the White House – while urging ex-president Nick CONDITION Fuentes and Kanye West
- Israel’s longest-serving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is returning to power after his coalition won a parliamentary majority last month
- He and Donald Trump were known to be close when both were in office
- Netanyahu told NBC host Chuck Todd to “keep me out of this” when asked if he wants Trump to win the 2024 presidential race
- Netanyahu said Trump had “done great things for Israel” but urged him to further condemn Nick Fuentes after their meeting in Mar-a-Lago
New Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who forged a close political relationship with Donald Trump when both men were last in office, likened declaring support for the ex-US president to stepping on a “landmine” on Sunday.
Last month, Netanyahu led a right-wing coalition to regain a majority in Tel Aviv’s parliament, meaning Israel’s longest-serving prime minister is back in power after being defeated by a historically disparate opposition coalition.
Speaking to NBC News’ Meet The Press, the longtime leader used his recent election to dodge questions about whether he would back Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
He also called on the former commander in chief to strengthen his condemnation of anti-Semites Nick Fuentes and Kanye West after they had dinner with Trump at his resort town of Mar-a-Lago last month.
Trump’s close public relationship with Netanyahu collapsed after the ex-president branded his Israeli counterpart “disloyal” for congratulating President Joe Biden on his 2020 victory.
But the prime minister was careful to avoid criticism or favor on Sunday, declaring: “Oh god I’ve had enough of my politics.”
“I just won – done four of our elections, do you want me to be in your elections? Keep me out of this,” Netanyahu scoffed.
New Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu avoided saying whether he would support Donald Trump in the 2024 US presidential election, despite their previous close relationship
WATCH: When asked about a possible 2024 Trump candidacy, Israeli PM-elect Benjamin Netanyahu says he will “deal with anyone who is elected president [of the United States]”2024.
“Keep me out of this. … I will not step on that land mine.” pic.twitter.com/c1IstG86up
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) December 4, 2022
Without naming names, he pledged to work with anyone pressured to become president if a Trump victory would be good for Israel.
“Well, let me say that I will take care of everyone who’s been elected President, those I’ve worked with in the past, and everyone who’s coming in because of the bond between Israel and America… it really is a bond of peoples,” Netanyahu said.
“I’ll handle anyone, and I certainly won’t step on the land mine you just put in front of me.”
The Conservative politician quipped: “Come on I’ve been in this business long enough and so have you. Keep trying.’
He was also cautious in condemning Trump’s meetings with white nationalist Fuentes and rapper West, now known as Ye, noting that Trump had “done great things for Israel.”
Trump announced last month that he was starting a third campaign for the White House after losing to Joe Biden in 2020
It comes amid the aftermath of his dinner with Kanye West and Nick Fuentes in Mar-a-Lago last month (pictured: West, left, and Fuentes, right, are spotted at the Miami airport before meeting).
Ye made headlines last week when he called Jews pedophiles and spoke fervently about Adolph Hitler in an interview so widely publicized that his conspiracy theorist host Alex Jones was forced to push back on rampant anti-Semitism.
Netanyahu called Trump’s meeting with the couple last week a “mistake”.
Trump didn’t immediately disagree with Fuente’s views, but in an interview with Fox News Digital about a week later, he said, “I had never heard of the man — I had no idea what his views were and they weren’t expressed on the table.” in our very quick dinner, otherwise it would not have been accepted.’
“Let me say that President Trump has done great things for Israel. He recognized Jerusalem as our capital, long overdue since King David proclaimed it as such 3,000 years ago. He moved the American embassy there. He recognized our sovereignty over the Golan Heights,” Netanyahu said, listing the Trump administration’s political positions on Israel.
“So he’s done all these great things and I appreciate that. And I remain grateful.’
But he added: “In this matter, in relation to Kanye West and that other unacceptable guest, I think it’s not just unacceptable, it’s just plain wrong. And I hope he sees his way to stay out of it and judge it.’