Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet United States President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, marking their seventh face-to-face meeting since Trump’s return to office last year.
According to Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli leader will travel to Washington on Monday for talks with Trump before attending the funeral service of Senator Lindsey Graham, whom the statement described as “a friend of Israel.”
The meeting comes at a time when differences between the two leaders over the handling of Iran have increasingly surfaced in public, despite their longstanding political alliance.
Since Trump returned to the White House, the two leaders have maintained close ties, including coordinating a joint military campaign against Iran in late February that both governments initially described as successful.
Netanyahu has repeatedly referred to Trump as “the greatest friend” Israel has ever had in the White House.
However, recent months have exposed growing disagreements over whether to maintain military pressure on Iran or pursue renewed diplomatic engagement.
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“We get along very good. (Netanyahu) knows who the boss is,” Trump said earlier this month during an interview with Axios.
Relations reportedly reached one of their lowest points in April during negotiations over an initial US-Iran ceasefire, which has since collapsed.
According to reports, Trump became frustrated after Israel launched fresh military strikes shortly before the ceasefire agreement was due to take effect, prompting an unusually heated exchange between the two leaders.
Trump later described Netanyahu as “a very difficult guy,” highlighting the strains that have emerged despite their close partnership.
Netanyahu has sought to downplay the disagreements, describing them as tactical differences rather than a breakdown in relations.
“We can disagree in the morning, and by the afternoon, we have common action,” Netanyahu said, insisting that both leaders remain united in their commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and weakening Hezbollah.
The upcoming White House meeting is expected to focus on regional security, the conflict involving Iran, developments in Lebanon and broader Middle East stability.
The visit also comes as Netanyahu prepares for Israel’s upcoming national elections, where he is expected to seek another term in office.
Recent opinion polls indicate the Israeli prime minister faces mounting political pressure, with public criticism continuing over his government’s handling of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks that triggered the war in Gaza.
Analysts say the outcome of Tuesday’s meeting could shape future US-Israel cooperation on security and diplomacy while offering insight into how both leaders intend to navigate the evolving Middle East landscape.
