Washington, D.C.: US President Donald Trump has said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested a meeting at the White House that could take place as early as next week. Trump also said the two leaders share a strong relationship, remarking that Netanyahu “knows who the boss is” while referring to himself.
Meeting may take place after NATO summit
Speaking in a brief phone interview with Axios, Trump said the proposed meeting could be held after his return from the NATO summit. However, an Israeli official indicated that next week may be too soon because of Trump’s travel schedule, suggesting the meeting could instead take place the following week.
If it goes ahead, the meeting would be the first face-to-face talks between the two leaders since their meeting at the White House Situation Room in February.
Netanyahu’s office confirms leaders agreed to meet
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that Netanyahu spoke with Trump on Friday to congratulate him on the 250th Independence Day of the United States.
According to the statement, Netanyahu highlighted the close relationship between the two countries, and both leaders agreed to meet in the United States in the near future.
Reports point to policy differences
The proposed meeting comes amid reports of differences between Trump and Netanyahu over the conflict in the Middle East and broader regional strategy.
According to Axios, some of Trump’s advisers have become increasingly critical of Netanyahu’s approach in recent months. The report also said Trump had previously expressed concern over Israel’s military operations in Lebanon and urged restraint while supporting diplomatic efforts involving Iran.
Despite the reported differences, both leaders have continued to maintain close diplomatic engagement.
Trump comments on Iran negotiations
During the interview, Trump also said he was closely following the funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and claimed Iran was eager to resume negotiations after the mourning period.
He said discussions had been paused until the funeral ceremonies concluded and expressed optimism that negotiations could continue afterwards. Trump also questioned the scale of public mourning witnessed during the funeral ceremonies.
The proposed White House meeting is expected to focus on developments in the Middle East, including the situation involving Iran, regional security and the future of US-Israel cooperation. Neither side has announced an official date for the meeting.