US President Donald Trump showed visible frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during White House talks, exposing growing strain over Iran war strategy.
Washington, United States – Web Desk: US President Donald Trump displayed visible irritation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of their White House meeting on Tuesday, pointing to fresh strains between the two leaders over strategy on the Iran war.
Trump’s frustration centred on reports that details of Netanyahu’s planned talking points on Iran had been leaked to the media before the two leaders even sat down together. Speaking to “Fox & Friends,” Trump remarked that he did not need Netanyahu to inform him of matters he already knew, suggesting the Israeli leader wanted him to remain engaged in the conflict. He also questioned why such details were made public rather than shared with him directly.
The comments followed a report published Monday by the New York Post, which cited a source in Jerusalem saying Netanyahu intended to present intelligence to Trump alleging Iran was expanding its nuclear activity at Pickaxe Mountain, a fortified underground facility near one of the country’s key nuclear sites, while misleading the world about its willingness to pursue a peace agreement. This claim has not been independently verified. Netanyahu’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Trump’s remarks.
Despite the tension, photographs released by Netanyahu’s office showed the two leaders appearing relaxed and smiling together in the Oval Office, joined by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt described the Netanyahu meeting, along with a separate closed-door session Trump held earlier with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, as positive and productive.
Officials say Washington’s relationship with Zelenskiy has warmed in recent months as Ukraine has managed to slow Russian advances, while frustration has grown within the administration over the lack of progress toward a broader resolution to the Iran conflict. Some of Trump’s supporters have also voiced opposition to deeper US military involvement in the Middle East. Both leaders were in Washington to attend a memorial service for Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent Republican voice on Israel and Ukraine policy.
Sources familiar with the matter said Netanyahu is seeking Trump’s backing ahead of Israel’s October 27 election, where he currently faces difficult polling numbers at home. Analysts suggest a high-profile, cordial meeting with Trump could help bolster his standing domestically. The two leaders were also expected to discuss the Abraham Accords, the set of agreements Trump helped broker to normalise relations between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. Trump has been pushing to bring Saudi Arabia into the framework, tying a proposed civilian nuclear cooperation deal to Riyadh’s participation, though Saudi officials have so far declined without progress on Palestinian statehood.
Separately, Zelenskiy said after his talks with Trump that he had discussed licensing arrangements to allow Ukraine to produce interceptors for US-made Patriot air defence systems, along with further cooperation on drone production. He was expected to travel to the US Capitol afterward for meetings with senators. The developments come as both the Iran conflict and the Ukraine war remain at critical stages, with Trump saying he has paused US airstrikes on Iran to allow room for renewed diplomacy.
