--- title: "Trump doubts Netanyahu knew of Oct. 7 attack warnings" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-doubts-netanyahu-knew-of-oct-7-attack-warnings" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/trump-doubts-netanyahu-knew-of-oct-7-attack-warnings" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-doubts-netanyahu-knew-of-oct-7-attack-warnings.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/trump-doubts-netanyahu-knew-of-oct-7-attack-warnings" category: "Politics" area: "Israel" published: "2026-10-01T13:26:14.737Z" source_reported: "2026-10-01T13:05:26.000Z" updated: "2026-10-01T13:26:14.737Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-01T14:00:20.460848+00:00" --- # Trump doubts Netanyahu knew of Oct. 7 attack warnings *Former US president also declined to endorse Israeli prime minister for re-election.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to Trump, but relies on anonymous sourcing for the reports of warnings. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. Most outlets provided digests, limiting the depth of reporting and analysis. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines focus on Trump's refusal to endorse Netanyahu, overshadowing other aspects of the interview. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Donald Trump said he does not believe reports that Benjamin Netanyahu was warned by Egypt or the UAE about the October 7 Hamas attack. - Trump declined to directly endorse Netanyahu for another term in office, stating he is no longer involved in politics. - The former president said he had not heard negative information about opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot. - Trump compared Netanyahu to himself, stating he would not underestimate the prime minister. Donald Trump stated he does not believe reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was warned by Egypt or the United Arab Emirates about the October 7 Hamas attack. In an interview with Time magazine, Trump said that if Netanyahu had known, he would have taken action. Trump also refused to endorse Netanyahu for another term in office, steering the conversation away from the question three times. When asked if Israelis should give Netanyahu another term, Trump responded that he is no longer involved in politics, but also stated he would not underestimate Netanyahu, comparing him to himself. He also commented on opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot, saying he had not heard negative things about him. ## Disagreement on timing of Trump's awareness The Jerusalem Post reported that Trump said, "I think if he would have known, he would have done something about it." Haaretz and Israel Hayom reported Trump stating, "I heard that today for the first time," when asked about warnings the prime minister reportedly received. The Jerusalem Post also reported Trump saying, "Certainly, he would have had people at least alert [him]." ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention Trump's comparison of himself to Netanyahu, stating he would not underestimate the prime minister. None of the right-rated digests mention Trump's statement that he believes Israel would not have been able to defend itself against Iran without the United States. ## Who covered it Shares of the 11 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 27% (3) - Centre: 18% (2) - Right: 55% (6) 6 of 17 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-01T14:00:20.460848+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 4 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-01T14:45:28.299Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports led on Donald Trump refusing to endorse Benjamin Netanyahu for another term. IndexHR reported that Trump "uskratio je podršku" (withheld support) and avoided a clear answer when asked if Netanyahu should get another mandate. Haaretz reported Trump stating, "'Can't imagine' Netanyahu was warned before October 7 Hamas attack," and that he heard about the warnings for the first time in the interview. ### Centre - The centre-rated report from the Jerusalem Post led on Trump stating he does not believe Netanyahu was warned about the October 7 attack. It also noted Trump refused to endorse Netanyahu for another term, steering the conversation away from the question. The report quoted Trump saying, "I think if he would have known, he would have done something about it." ### Right - The right-rated reports focused on Donald Trump's disbelief that Benjamin Netanyahu was warned about the October 7 Hamas attack. VINnews reported Trump saying, "I Don’t Believe Netanyahu Was Warned." Arutz Sheva reported Trump stating, "'I don't think Netanyahu was warned in advance'." Protothema reported Trump avoiding public support for Netanyahu, stating, "I Don't Get Involved in Politics." Anadolu Ajansı reported Trump declining to endorse Netanyahu and mentioning he had not heard "bad things" about Gadi Eisenkot. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 4 - high: 5 - unknown: 6 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The Times of Israel](https://timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/coming-to-netanyahus-defense-trump-says-he-cant-imagine-israeli-leader-ignored-warnings-ahead-of-oct-7) — Coming to Netanyahu’s defense, Trump says he ‘can’t imagine’ Israeli leader ignored warnings ahead of Oct. 7 - [i24NEWS](https://i24news.tv/en/news/international/americas/artc-if-he-knew-he-would-have-done-something-about-it-trump-on-reports-netanyahu-was-warned-about-oct-7) — ‘If He Knew, He Would Have Done Something About It,' Trump On Reports Netanyahu Was Warned About Oct. 7 - [face.ba](https://face.ba/vijesti/svijet/trump-odbio-podrzati-netanyahua-uoci-izraelskih-izbora/613079) — Trump Refused to Support Netanyahu Ahead of Israeli Elections | Face | The only Independent Media House - [notizie.it](https://notizie.it/israele-trump-apre-a-eisenkot-premier-non-sento-cose-negative-su-di-lui) — Israel, Trump Opens to Eisenkot Premier: "I Don't Hear Bad Things About Him" - [Rec News | Lontani dal mainstream](https://recnews.it/2026/10/01/israele-trump-apre-a-eisenkot-premier-non-sento-cose-negative-su-di-lui) — Israel, Trump Opens to Eisenkot Premier: "I Don't Hear Bad Things About Him" - [canaledieci.it](https://canaledieci.it/2026/10/01/israele-trump-apre-a-eisenkot-premier-non-sento-cose-negative-su-di-lui) — Israel, Trump Opens to Eisenkot Premier: "I Don't Hear Bad Things About Him" - [Middle East Monitor](https://middleeastmonitor.com/20261001-trump-declines-to-endorse-netanyahu-ahead-of-israeli-elections) — Trump declines to endorse Netanyahu ahead of Israeli elections - [VINnews](https://vinnews.com/2026/10/01/trump-addresses-oct-7-warnings-for-first-time-i-dont-believe-netanyahu-was-warned) — Trump Addresses Oct. 7 Warnings For First Time: “I Don’t Believe Netanyahu Was Warned” - [Avaz.ba](https://avaz.ba/vijesti/globus/1076672/pitali-trampa-podrzava-li-netanjahua-pred-izbore-u-izraelu-jednu-stvar-nije-zelio-reci) — Trump Was Asked if He Supports Netanyahu Before the Elections in Israel: He Did Not Want to Say One Thing - [Arutz Sheva](https://israelnationalnews.com/news/433950) — Trump: 'I don't think Netanyahu was warned in advance' - [Jerusalem Post](https://jpost.com/israel-news/article-910334) — Trump says he doesn't believe Netanyahu was warned about Oct. 7 by Egypt, UAE - [Israel Hayom](https://israelhayom.com/2026/10/01/trump-stops-short-of-backing-netanyahu-eisenkot-i-dont-hear-bad-things-about-him) — Trump stops short of backing Netanyahu: 'Eisenkot? I don't hear bad things about him' - [IndexHR](https://index.hr/vijesti/clanak/trumpa-pitali-podrzava-li-netanyahua-uoci-izbora-u-izraelu-nije-htio-reci/2840851.aspx) — Elections Are Coming Soon in Israel. Trump Refuses to Support Netanyahu - [Protothema](https://protothema.gr/world/article/1887811/o-trab-apefuge-na-stirixei-dimosia-ton-netaniahou-enopsei-ton-eklogon-sto-israil-den-anakateuomai-me-tin-politiki) — Trump Avoided Publicly Supporting Netanyahu Ahead of the Israeli Elections: "I Don't Get Involved in Politics" - [Anadolu Ajansı](https://aa.com.tr/en/americas/trump-declines-to-endorse-netanyahu-ahead-of-israeli-elections/4074936) — Trump Declines to Endorse Netanyahu Ahead of Israeli Elections - [Haaretz](https://haaretz.com/us-news/2026-10-01/ty-article/.premium/trump-cant-imagine-netanyahu-was-warned-ahead-of-oct-7/000001a0-f747-d9ab-abfd-f7e747150000) — Trump: 'Can't imagine' Netanyahu was warned before October 7 Hamas attack - [NEWSru.co.il](https://newsru.co.il/press/1oct2026/time_trump_136.html) — Trump in an Interview with Time: "I Don't Think Egypt and UAE Warned Netanyagu Before October 7th." ## Questions **Did Donald Trump believe Benjamin Netanyahu was warned about the October 7 attack?** No, Donald Trump stated he does not believe reports that Benjamin Netanyahu was warned by Egypt or the United Arab Emirates about the October 7 Hamas attack. He said that if Netanyahu had known, he would have taken action. **Did Donald Trump endorse Benjamin Netanyahu for another term?** No, Donald Trump refused to directly endorse Benjamin Netanyahu for another term in office. He stated he is no longer involved in politics and steered the conversation away from the question multiple times. **What did Donald Trump say about Gadi Eisenkot?** Donald Trump stated that he had not heard any negative things about opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot. He was asked if Washington could work more effectively with Eisenkot than with Netanyahu. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-doubts-netanyahu-knew-of-oct-7-attack-warnings. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Trump doubts Netanyahu knew of Oct. 7 attack warnings", https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-doubts-netanyahu-knew-of-oct-7-attack-warnings