President Trump Welcomes Netanyahu Amidst Geopolitical Tensions
United States President Donald Trump is preparing to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House for the seventh time during his second term. This meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, marks the first face-to-face encounter between the two leaders since the joint initiation of the conflict with Iran on February 28. The visit occurs against a backdrop of increasing public and political scrutiny regarding US policy toward Israel, particularly concerning the war, which has seen its popularity wane among American citizens and even within segments of Trump's Republican Party.
The announcement of Netanyahu's visit came late last week, coinciding with his planned trip to Washington, D.C., for the funeral of US Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch advocate for Israeli interests in Congress. Andrew Day, senior editor at The American Conservative, noted to Al Jazeera that prior to this, there had been no direct meetings between the leaders since the war began. Day suggested that the conflict's rapid escalation into what many perceive as a 'disaster' likely made previous visits politically unfeasible due to 'bad optics.'
Domestic Repercussions and Shifting Public Opinion
Recent polling data indicates a noticeable increase in Republican disapproval of US policy towards Israel, though it remains less pronounced than among Democrats. A Politico poll released last week highlighted a significant shift, revealing that only a third of self-identified 'Make America Great Again' (MAGA) voters—a demographic typically unwavering in its support for Trump's agenda—believed the economic costs of the conflict with Iran were justified. This sentiment, combined with a widespread perception that Israel played a key role in drawing the US into the war, could render the meeting with Netanyahu politically costly for Republicans as the midterm elections approach in just over three months.
Day commented, "I don’t think Trump personally perceives the risks, although the risk definitely exists." This perspective underscores the potential disconnect between the administration's actions and the evolving political landscape, where public opinion is increasingly critical of prolonged military engagements and their associated costs.
Diplomatic Shifts and Internal Disagreements
The timing of Tuesday's meeting is particularly noteworthy, following Trump's announcement on Monday that Washington was pursuing new diplomatic avenues with Iran. This diplomatic shift comes after the dissolution of a June 17 memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the US and Iran, which had aimed to halt hostilities. The collapse of the MoU led to 13 consecutive days of escalation, although fighting has since paused for three days.
Netanyahu's government had vehemently opposed the MoU, arguing it strengthened Tehran's position while offering minimal concessions. Israel has consistently advocated for broader regime change and a zero-tolerance policy regarding Iran's nuclear program, a stance that has increasingly diverged from the Trump administration's recent efforts to de-escalate the conflict and frame it as a victory. In June, Israeli operations in Lebanon, which threatened to derail the MoU, prompted rare criticism from Trump and US Vice President JD Vance, who has emerged as a vocal critic of certain Israeli policies within the administration. Vance notably warned Israeli officials against criticizing the US administration, emphasizing the importance of their alliance.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump reiterated his view on the unequal nature of certain international relationships: "Frankly, we’re being very nice to a lot of countries that would not survive without us. And you know who wouldn’t survive without us? Israel."
Despite internal criticisms and public opinion shifts, Trump has consistently affirmed his support for both Netanyahu and Israel, and this rhetoric has not yet translated into significant policy changes. Matt Duss, executive vice president of the Center for International Policy, told Al Jazeera that regardless of any private or public criticisms, the fundamental policy remains unchanged. He suggested that the White House invitation reflects Trump's enduring personal connection with the Israeli leader, irrespective of evolving public sentiment. Netanyahu has met with Trump more times than any other world leader, including a meeting at his Mar-a-Lago estate in December 2025. Duss posited, "Given that they’ve been so close, perhaps Trump just feels it would be too big of a story if he didn’t give him a meeting again."
However, Duss also noted that the meeting is far from inconsequential, as Netanyahu has historically leveraged such opportunities to personally appeal to Trump to advance his strategic objectives. "Netanyahu knows how to influence Trump," Duss explained, adding, "And Trump can be very influenced by the last person he spoke to if that person knows how to speak to him in the right way." Netanyahu himself stated that the meeting would address several key issues, "primarily Iran," with the overarching goals of protecting Israel's security and expanding regional peace initiatives.
Netanyahu's Domestic Calculations
For Netanyahu, the benefits of an Oval Office meeting are arguably more straightforward. According to Michael Omer-Man, the Israel-Palestine director at the DAWN advocacy group, any face time with the US president can significantly bolster Netanyahu's standing ahead of anticipated challenging Israeli elections in October. Netanyahu is expected to project a more restrained image to the US public while simultaneously catering to his domestic audience. "Any opportunity he has to be photographed with Trump, the most powerful person in the world, is a personal political benefit to him," Omer-Man explained. He added, "He wants to emphasise his relationship with Trump, and he’s gonna argue that he’s the only one who knows how to deal with the US and the only one with the relationship with Trump."
Nevertheless, Omer-Man acknowledged that the meeting carries potential risks for Netanyahu. Trump could exert pressure related to a US-backed agreement between Lebanon and Israel, which aims for Israel's complete withdrawal from Lebanon but appears to permit a near-indefinite Israeli military occupation. Furthermore, Trump might push for progress on the Trump-backed 20-point "peace plan" in Gaza, where Israeli violations of the ceasefire have been almost daily occurrences. Ahead of Netanyahu's trip, the Israeli government approved the entry of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) into Gaza, though without a specified timeline for a complete Israeli withdrawal.
The meeting also takes place amidst a surge of settler violence in the occupied West Bank. Human rights organizations have long contended that such violence is not merely isolated incidents but part of a deliberate government strategy. Condemnation of settler attacks has become a rare bipartisan issue in the US, even within the Trump administration. Omer-Man suggested this could be a "wild card," stating, "As much as Trump has not wanted to antagonise or criticise or intervene in anything that Netanyahu or Israel has done or wanted to do, this is the one issue that has basically crossed all party lines in American politics in recent years." He concluded, "It’s obviously heating up and looking pretty bad at the moment."
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