Netanyahu could visit White House next week, Trump says
Trump told Axios the Israeli prime minister asked for a meeting as tensions persist over Iran ceasefire talks and Israeli strikes in Lebanon.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
President Donald Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may come to the White House as early as next week, Axios reported. The potential meeting would come as the United States and Israel remain at odds over ceasefire efforts involving Iran and Israel’s attacks in Lebanon.
Trump told Axios on Saturday that Netanyahu had asked for the meeting. He said the visit could take place after Trump returns from the NATO summit scheduled for July 7 and 8 in Ankara, Turkiye, according to the outlet.
If it happens, the trip would be Netanyahu’s first to Washington since the current US-Israeli war with Iran began, Al Jazeera reported. It would also be his seventh visit to the United States during Trump’s second term, more than any other foreign leader since Trump returned to office in January 2025, according to Al Jazeera.
Strain over Iran and Lebanon
The possible meeting follows public signs of friction between Trump and Netanyahu. Al Jazeera reported that Israel has resisted Trump administration efforts to reach a ceasefire with Iran, while Trump has criticized Israel’s continued strikes in Lebanon, which he has said could undermine a negotiated deal.
Trump rejected suggestions of a serious split in his relationship with Netanyahu during his Axios interview. “We get along very good. [Netanyahu] knows who the boss is,” Trump told the outlet.
The United States and Israel have long maintained close ties. Al Jazeera reported that Washington first recognized Israel in 1948 and that Israel has become the largest cumulative recipient of US foreign aid of any country since World War II.
In 2016, the United States committed to provide Israel $38bn in military assistance over 10 years, Al Jazeera reported. Washington has also continued to provide additional military aid to Israel in recent years, including during Israel’s war in Gaza.
Ceasefire efforts remain fragile
Al Jazeera reported that Trump’s second administration has joined Israel in two wars against Iran, one in June 2025 and another that began on February 28. The Trump administration has argued that US involvement helped prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, while Tehran has denied seeking one and says its uranium enrichment program is for civilian energy.
A Quinnipiac University poll released June 24 found that 60 percent of US voters said the war with Iran was “not worth it,” while 34 percent supported it. The same survey found that 48 percent of respondents believed the United States is too supportive of Israel.
The Trump administration has tried to reduce the fighting, announcing a two-week ceasefire on April 8 that was later extended indefinitely, according to Al Jazeera. The United States and Iran also signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding on June 17 to halt hostilities, though Al Jazeera reported that implementation has been uneven.
Since that agreement, the United States and Iran have exchanged fire over commercial passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and Israel has continued attacks in southern Lebanon, according to Al Jazeera. Trump has said Israel’s actions in Lebanon have angered him and have prompted Iran to threaten closing the strait again.
In early June, Trump confirmed to the New York Post that he had called Netanyahu “f***ing crazy” during a phone call about Lebanon. “I was a little bit perturbed at his constantly fighting with Lebanon,” Trump told the newspaper, while also saying he liked Netanyahu and worked well with him.
Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant remain subject to International Criminal Court arrest warrants, Al Jazeera reported. Neither Israel nor the United States recognizes the court’s authority.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.