Netanyahu’s tense meeting with Trump leaves him with little gain upon his return from Washington

After Trump confuses important issues, Netanyahu returns from Washington with little progress, leaving Israel’s delegation feeling let down and irritated.

After a contentious and fruitless meeting with US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has returned from a hurriedly planned trip to Washington with little to show.

The trip revealed weaknesses in the two leaders’ once strong relationship, despite being promoted as a chance to deepen ties and solve pressing security and trade concerns.

Netanyahu had a full agenda when he visited the White House on Monday, asking for cooperation on Trump’s new tariff regime, the expanding Turkish influence in Syria, the intensifying battle in Gaza, and Iran’s growing nuclear ambitions. However, according to several sources, Trump seemed to downplay or conflate several of Netanyahu’s main issues during a one-hour discussion in the Oval Office.

Netanyahu openly lauded the visit despite the difficulties, calling it a “very good visit” with successes “on all fronts” on Tuesday. But according to a source with knowledge of the talks, the Israeli team departed feeling let down because they thought the meeting had not produced any tangible outcomes.

Nadav Eyal, a political analyst for the Yediot Ahronot daily, stated, “Netanyahu came home with very little because he didn’t hear exactly what he wanted to hear.” Nevertheless, despite the underlying tensions, Eyal observed that the meeting’s tone remained friendly.

The visit coincides with a precarious geopolitical period in the Middle East. Israel broke a ceasefire that Trump had endorsed last month by resuming its military attack in Gaza. As worries over Tehran’s nuclear capabilities grow, Israel’s protracted conflict with Iran has gotten more intense.

Given the past president’s steadfast pro-Israel position throughout his first term, Netanyahu’s supporters had high hopes for renewed US backing during Trump’s second term. 

Trump has overturned the Biden administration’s critical stance toward Israel’s activities in Gaza and the West Bank and appointed ardently pro-Israel individuals to his new cabinet.

But the meeting on Monday indicated a change in the situation. Although Trump still has some support in theory, his readiness to publicly question Netanyahu’s agenda points to a more nuanced and uncertain partnership during his second term.

Although Netanyahu’s brief visit to Washington was intended to convey strength and support for the White House, it seems to have brought attention to the alliance’s expanding boundaries at a time when Israel is facing more difficult domestic and international circumstances.