54-seat lead: Trump aides ready to shift if Netanyahu loses

The Israeli opposition bloc holds a 54-seat lead over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s party in the latest Maariv poll conducted ahead of the October 27 election.

US President Donald Trump’s advisers have expressed optimism about the prospect of governing alongside the opposition if Netanyahu loses power, according to officials who spoke to Axios.

One adviser described the political dynamic by stating, “Netanyahu is the devil Trump knows.” The report noted that several of the president’s closest aides opposed his decision to endorse Netanyahu, arguing he should have remained neutral in the race.

Vice President JD Vance declined to explicitly back the prime minister during a press interaction this week. He said, “I am not attacking Bibi Netanyahu. I am not endorsing Bibi Netanyahu. I think the president’s endorsement is what matters.”

Tensions within the administration extend beyond the election. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack criticized the Netanyahu government’s military strategy in Syria, calling strikes on a base in the Idlib province an “unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s team maintains a closer relationship with the prime minister but believes Israel should do more to strengthen the Lebanese government. The State Department has also voiced frustration over what it sees as Netanyahu’s limited efforts to curb settler violence in the West Bank.

The Maariv survey indicates that 60% of Israeli respondents would prefer a unity government if the election results in a fragmented parliament. Among those favoring unity, 33% want a leader from the opposition bloc, while 19% prefer Netanyahu. In a direct head-to-head matchup for prime minister, opposition leader Benny Gantz’s rival, Eisenkot, leads Netanyahu with 49% support compared to 41% for the incumbent.