Former US President Donald Trump expressed skepticism regarding reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received prior warnings from Egypt or the United Arab Emirates about the October 7 Hamas attack. In an interview conducted with Time magazine on Thursday, Trump stated that he doubts Netanyahu had advance notice of the assault, arguing that if the prime minister had been informed, he would have taken action or at least been alerted.

Trump described the events of October 7 as a “terrible day” and suggested that Netanyahu would not have forgotten any such warning, implying that Israel’s response would have been different had the prime minister been prepared.

When questioned about Netanyahu’s political future and the upcoming Israeli elections, Trump stopped short of endorsing the prime minister. On multiple occasions, he diverted direct questions about whether Netanyahu should secure another term. In one response, Trump emphasized the importance of U.S.-Israeli cooperation, asserting that Israel “wouldn’t have been able to defend itself” against threats like Iran without American support. In another, he declined to comment on Israeli domestic politics by stating, “I’m not involved in politics anymore,” before noting his own personal popularity in Israel.

Despite refraining from a clear endorsement, Trump complimented Netanyahu’s resilience, saying the prime minister should not be underestimated and recalling how many have “written off Bibi many, many times.”

The former president also addressed the topic of Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief seen as a prominent challenger to Netanyahu. Trump indicated uncertainty about whether Eisenkot would be a more effective partner for the United States, acknowledging that he had not encountered negative reports about the former IDF chief.

This interview highlights Trump’s continued engagement with Israeli affairs and his cautious approach to commenting on the nation’s political landscape despite no longer holding office.