White House Staffing: Trump Team Readies Opposition Pivot
Polls show opposition bloc holding a six-seat advantage days before Israel’s election.
By Jonathan Hoffmann ·
The Trump administration is positioning itself to engage with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political rivals if the incumbent loses Israel’s upcoming election. US officials told Axios that advisers are optimistic about the potential for cooperation with the opposition, despite internal friction over the president’s endorsement of Netanyahu.
The path to this strategy has been marked by internal disagreement. Many of the president’s closest advisors opposed the decision to back Netanyahu, arguing he should have remained neutral in the race. Vice President JD Vance recently declined to explicitly support the prime minister, stating, "I’m not attacking Bibi Netanyahu. I’m not endorsing Bibi Netanyahu.. I think the president's endorsement is ultimately what matters." One senior adviser described the current leadership by noting, "[Netanyahu] is the devil [Trump] knows."
Tensions within the administration have surfaced over specific regional policies. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack criticized Israel’s military operations in Syria, calling strikes in the Idlib province an "unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability." Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his team have maintained a closer relationship with the prime minister but expressed frustration with Netanyahu’s handling of settler attacks in the West Bank and efforts to strengthen Lebanon’s government.
The latest polling data underscores the shifting political dynamics in Israel. A Maariv survey released ahead of the vote shows the opposition bloc widening its lead to 54 seats, while Netanyahu’s bloc has dropped to 48. In a direct matchup for prime minister, opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot leads the incumbent with 49 percent support compared to 41 percent for Netanyahu.
The survey also gauges voter preference for a unity government if the election results in a fragmented parliament. Sixty percent of respondents indicated they would prefer a unity government over another election, which 23 percent supported. Among those favoring unity, 33 percent wanted a candidate from the opposition bloc to lead the coalition, while 19 percent preferred Netanyahu. Eight percent supported a unity government regardless of leadership.
The Israeli election is scheduled for October 27. The results will determine whether the White House shifts its diplomatic focus to the opposition leadership or continues working with Netanyahu’s government.
