Trump to host Netanyahu on Tuesday as tensions over Iran and Lebanon strain US-Israel alliance

Background of the meeting

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, his office announced. The visit comes against the backdrop of renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran and follows weeks of speculation about friction between the two leaders. Netanyahu will also attend the funeral of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who died on 11 July and was described by the prime minister's office as a "friend of Israel".

From alliance to friction

Since Trump returned to power in January 2025, the two have met several times, most recently on 11 February in Washington. Early in Trump's second term, Netanyahu called him "the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House."

After a joint US-Israel offensive against Iran on 28 February, which both sides initially presented as a success, the relationship began to show strain. The core disagreement is whether to maintain military pressure on Iran or pursue a diplomatic solution. During US-Iran ceasefire negotiations in April, Trump grew furious with Israel over its continued war in Lebanon against Hezbollah, warning that the operations complicated talks with Tehran.

Trump's sharp criticism

Trump's irritation spilled into public view in recent interviews. In early July he told Axios, "We get along very well, (Netanyahu) knows who's boss." In June he revealed to the New York Post that, just hours before a truce between Washington and Tehran was concluded, he had confronted Netanyahu directly.

Are you completely crazy? What the hell are you doing?

He also described the prime minister as a "very difficult" leader in another interview, and insisted that Israel owed the United States gratitude.

He should be very grateful to us, because if Iran had nuclear weapons, Israel wouldn't last two hours.

Domestic political calendar

Netanyahu's White House visit coincides with his campaign for another term. Legislative elections in Israel are scheduled for 27 October. Israeli and American press reported that Netanyahu had been seeking a new meeting for several weeks without a fixed date, fueling the friction narrative.

Senator Graham's funeral

The trip carries additional weight because of Graham's funeral. The South Carolina senator, who died on 11 July, was an influential figure in US-Israel relations. Attending the service allows Netanyahu to honour a key Republican ally while in Washington.