'Keep me out of it': Benjamin Netanyahu dodges talking about Donald Trump's 2024 campaign
Israeli longest-serving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to say if he wants former President Donald Trump to return to the White House in 2024 on Sunday's edition of Meet the Press.
Netanyahu returned to power for the fourth time in November after his conservative Lukid party secured a majority in the Knesset, Israel's parliament. Netanyahu is expected to lead Israel's "most right-wing government to date," according to a report in Deutsche Welle following his victory.
Netanyahu and Trump had a close working relationship while they were in office. The two were also friends outside of politics. But the bond soured when Netanyahu openly respected the results of the 2020 election that Trump lost to President Joe Biden, and about which Trump continues to push debunked conspiracy theories.
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"Would you like to see Donald Trump as president again? Would you like to see Donald Trump as president again?" NBC moderator Chuck Todd twice asked Netanyahu.
"Oh God, I've had – I've had enough of *my* politics. I've just come through four of our elections. You want me to get into your elections? Keep me out of it," Netanyahu said.
"Would you like to see him as the American president though? Is that good for Israel in your mind?" Todd replied of Trump.
"Well, let me say that I'll deal with anyone who's elected president, those that I've worked with in the past and anyone new who comes to the plate because of the bond between Israel and America. And this is not a shibboleth. This is not just a saying. It really is a bond of peoples and it's a civilizational bond and it's strong," Netanyahu said.
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"I'll deal with anyone and I certainly will not step on that landmine that you just put before me, Chuck. Come on. I've been in this business long enough, and so have you. Keep trying," he added.
"Fair enough," Todd responded, "and I appreciate you asking me to keep trying."
Watch below or at this link.
\u201cWATCH: When asked about a potential Trump 2024 run, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister-designate, says he will "deal with anyone who's elected president [of the United States]" in 2024.\n\n"Keep me out of it. ... I will not step on that landmine."\u201d— Meet the Press (@Meet the Press) 1670164683
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