Kathrine Frich
When domestic polls start to slide, political leaders often look for friendly faces overseas.
A warm welcome abroad provides a brief, pleasant escape.
One famous leader is currently daydreaming about an entirely different office.
Looking for a new job
President Donald Trump faces an incredibly harsh reality in America right now. With crucial midterm elections approaching on November 3, his national approval ratings continue to sink rapidly.
To cope, the American leader recently floated a surprising backup plan. He claims to possess overwhelming support in the Middle East.
“I’m right now at 99% in Israel,” Trump said on Wednesday.
He even joked about moving there. “I could run for prime minister, so maybe after I do this, I’ll go to Israel and run for prime minister,” he added.
A tense phone call
Despite those cheerful comments, his actual relationship with Israeli leadership seems highly strained. Real diplomacy is proving incredibly difficult.
According to Israel’s Channel 12 cited by Express, the American president just had an explosive phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The two men strongly disagreed on their shared strategy.
Their dispute centers entirely on the ongoing war with Iran. The United States and Israel previously launched joint strikes against Iranian targets in late February.
Iran responded by shutting down the critical Strait of Hormuz. That single move blocked a massive chunk of global oil and sent fuel prices soaring everywhere.
Pushing for a deal
A fragile ceasefire currently holds the chaos at bay. Now, American officials desperately want to secure a permanent diplomatic solution.
According to Channel 12, Trump informed his ally about a brand new approach. American mediators are actively working on a written agreement for Washington and Tehran to sign.
This massive step would launch thirty days of intense negotiations aimed at reopening those vital shipping routes.
However, the Israeli prime minister rejected the idea. He reportedly urged the American president to apply more military pressure instead of seeking talks.
Sinking poll numbers
Trump urgently needs a major diplomatic win. He faces a brutal fight at the ballot box this November.
Recent polling data from The Economist paints a remarkably bleak picture for the incumbent. The numbers are staggering.
Right now, only 37 percent of the country actually approves of his overall job performance.
The magazine notes that the messy overseas conflict definitely hurts his public image. Still, the sluggish domestic economy remains his biggest problem.
Sources: Daily Express, Channel 12, The Economist
