U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Thursday sharply denied reports that the Trump administration approached Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yesh party leader Gadi Eisenkot about forming a broad unity government in which Netanyahu would serve as prime minister for two years before retiring from politics.
In a post on X, Huckabee made clear the report was false and stressed that the United States does not interfere in Israeli elections.
This is absolutely NOT true. Not in the least. The US government is NOT trying to manipulate Israel’s election or telling @IsraeliPM what to do. Period. Full stop. I hope @clashreport retracts this fake news story.
— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) October 15, 2026
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This is absolutely NOT true. Not in the least. The US government is NOT trying to manipulate Israel’s election or telling PM Netanyahu
what to do. Period. Full stop. I hope Clash Report retracts this fake news story.”Huckabee’s denial comes after reports, based on a story in Israel Hayom, that the Trump administration wants to see a broad unity government formed in Israel that would include Likud under Netanyahu and Eisenkot’s party. According to those reports, the move is aimed at helping end the wars in the region and advance peace agreements, primarily a possible deal with Saudi Arabia.
The reports also said that as part of the proposed contacts, Eisenkot’s bloc is demanding a commitment that Netanyahu retire after up to two years, cancellation of judicial reforms, and establishment of a commission of inquiry into the events of October 7. Huckabee, however, explicitly rejected the claim that the American administration is working to advance such a political framework or trying to influence the composition of Israel’s next government.