Netanyahu seeks White House meeting amid strained ties with Trump ahead of Israeli election

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington for a private meeting with President Donald Trump, marking his seventh visit to the United States since Trump took office. The talks are expected to cover the ongoing Iran conflict, U.S. arms sales to Turkey, a prospective Saudi nuclear agreement, and a new long-term U.S.–Israel defense pact that would replace the expiring memorandum from the previous administration.

According to U.S. and Israeli officials, Netanyahu has been working for weeks to secure the White House invitation, and the recent funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham provided a diplomatic opening. A senior administration official said Trump maintains a "strong relationship" with Netanyahu and that Israel is a key ally in countering Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

The two leaders previously coordinated the initial strikes of the Iran war in February, but the conflict has since stalled, creating divergent views on how to proceed. Israeli sources say Netanyahu will present updated intelligence on Iran’s nuclear and military rebuilding, while acknowledging that Trump appears reluctant to resume a full-scale campaign before the November U.S. elections.

Tensions have also emerged over other regional issues. Trump has urged Israel to reduce its military presence in Lebanon, Gaza and Syria, and has expressed frustration with Israel’s continued operations against Hezbollah. In a recent phone call, Trump reportedly told Netanyahu that "everybody hates you now," reflecting growing friction.

Additional points on the agenda include concerns in Israel that the possible sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey could erode its qualitative military edge, and that a U.S.–Saudi civilian nuclear deal might spark a regional arms race. Trump responded that he alone decides on the Turkish sales, describing Turkey as a "tremendous ally."

Netanyahu, who faces a challenging re-election campaign in October, is seeking assurances that any arms sales or nuclear cooperation will not compromise Israel’s security, and hopes to advance a broader security agreement with the United States. The meeting is expected to be off-camera, similar to their February discussion, and could shape both the next phase of the Iran conflict and Israel’s diplomatic positioning ahead of the election.