Trump, Netanyahu’s refusal to accept responsibility threatens democracy - opinion

This opinion piece argues that US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu share an illiberal view of power and a rejection of democratic checks and balances, manifested in their refusal to accept responsibility for failures. It cites Netanyahu's lack of accountability for the October 7 massacre and Trump's denial of responsibility for inflation and the war in Iran. The author warns that this pattern threatens democratic norms ahead of elections in both countries.

This opinion piece by Sebastien Levi argues that US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu share a fundamental rejection of democratic accountability, which threatens democratic institutions ahead of elections in both countries. The author asserts that both leaders have turned political irresponsibility into a governance style, refusing to acknowledge failures. For Netanyahu, the piece cites his refusal to accept responsibility for the October 7 massacre nearly three years after the event, noting that while all heads of the security establishment have resigned, Netanyahu remains in office, shifting blame onto the army and intelligence services. The author also references Netanyahu's refusal to acknowledge mistakes over Israel's isolation, the deterioration of US-Israel relations, and his judicial reform attempt. For Trump, the piece cites his denial of responsibility for inflation caused by tariffs and the poorly managed war in Iran, as well as the loss of American credibility. The author argues that both men face serious legal allegations—corruption for Netanyahu and rape for Trump—and dismiss judicial culpability as corruption within institutions. The piece warns that their survival instinct leads them to distrust the verdict of the people, as shown by attempts to restrict press freedom and voting access. The author concludes that democratic institutions must force them to acknowledge electoral defeat for a return to democratic normalcy.