US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are set to meet at the White House on Tuesday, but the latest meeting comes at a time of growing differences between the two allies.
The meeting will mark Netanyahu’s eighth visit to the Oval Office since Trump returned to the presidency. However, the Israeli prime minister arrives with less influence over US policy than during previous meetings, as disagreements over Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have increased.
Differences emerge over Iran strategy
When Trump and Netanyahu launched military action against Iran on 28 February, the two leaders appeared closely aligned. Five months later, their positions have increasingly diverged.
Netanyahu’s visit follows Trump’s decision to pause US strikes against Iran and announce that American officials are once again seeking a diplomatic agreement with Tehran.
Israeli officials said Netanyahu spent hours in cabinet discussions over the war while receiving limited information about Trump’s plans. Israel’s military prepared for the possibility of renewed major US-led operations before learning that Trump had decided to halt further strikes.
Trump has said he could consider restarting a large-scale military campaign if negotiations fail, potentially involving cooperation with Israel.
Netanyahu’s influence over Trump declines
During the early stages of the conflict, Trump and Netanyahu spoke almost daily to coordinate their positions. However, those communications have become less frequent in recent weeks.
Sources cited by Axios said Netanyahu increasingly relied on US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for updates on Trump’s thinking.
The Israeli prime minister also reportedly struggled to secure a meeting with Trump, after initially seeking a White House visit the previous week.
Since the April ceasefire, Netanyahu’s influence over US war decisions has gradually weakened.
Disputes over Turkey and Saudi Arabia
The two leaders have also disagreed over other foreign policy decisions.
Netanyahu reportedly failed to persuade Trump to block a planned F-35 aircraft sale to Turkey. Trump defended the decision, saying Turkey had been an important ally.
The Israeli prime minister was also reportedly surprised by a US nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia, after the deal did not include a clear requirement for Riyadh to normalise relations with Israel.
Trump has said Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords remains connected to the agreement, although he acknowledged he had not discussed the issue directly with Saudi officials.
Netanyahu seeks political support
Beyond foreign policy issues, Netanyahu is also looking for political support ahead of Israel’s upcoming election, which could affect both his political future and legal situation.
The Israeli leader has sought an endorsement from Trump, but the US president has so far avoided formally backing him.
While Trump has praised Netanyahu as a “great wartime prime minister”, he has repeatedly stopped short of offering a direct endorsement.
The closed-door Trump-Netanyahu meeting could become a key moment as both leaders attempt to manage their differences while maintaining their public alliance.
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