Trump's Surprises for Netanyahu: Iran Talks, Noncommittal on Reducing Tariffs
US President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. They discussed Iran, tariffs and Gaza.
Netanyahu is the first world leader to visit the White House since President Trump announced tariffs on global trading partners on 2 April.
As the Israeli PM was looking forward to another show of unity between Washington and Tel Aviv in the Oval Office, it seems that he was walking into an ambush, as described by The Times of Israel.
Sitting next to Netanyahu, Trump announced that senior US officials 'at almost the highest level' would be holding direct talks with Iran on Saturday to discuss its nuclear program.
Netanyahu and his aides seemed surprised by the announcement. Could this have been the real reason Trump was so adamant that Netanyahu make a sudden trip to Washington this week?
⚡️Netanyahu is visibly nervous! Trump announces direct talks with Iran to avoid war — crushing Tel Aviv's escalation dreams. The man who beat the drums of war is now watching his plan collapse on live TV.
Diplomacy just slapped Netanyahu in the face. No war. No green light. Just… pic.twitter.com/zWSU1tZT9p
— SilencedSirs◼️ (@SilentlySirs) April 8, 2025
Israeli Walla News reported that the Israeli premier 'returns from Washington empty-handed as Iran-US negotiations begin.'
The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation said, meanwhile, that Netanyahu's visit to Washington 'ended abruptly and with somewhat suspicious speed.'
Trump Refuses to Commit to Removing Tariffs
On the other hand, if it was tariffs Trump was eager to discuss, Netanyahu didn't get a win on that either.
The night before, the prime minister held what his office called a 'warm and productive' meeting with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, his top legal adviser Pierre Gentin and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
But in the Oval Office, Trump quite noticeably avoided committing to removing the tariffs on Israel.
'Well, we're talking about a whole new trade — maybe not,' he said. 'Maybe not.'
Then he really turned the screws.
'Don't forget, we help Israel a lot,' Trump said. 'We give Israel $4 billion a year, that's a lot.'
Trump refused to say he would drop the 17% tariffs on Israeli goods, because we already 'give them four billion dollars a year'.
Trump said they are negotiating an entire new trade deal, and that tariffs are still on the table.
The narrative that Trump is owned by Netanyahu, is… pic.twitter.com/IZ5HikH5ry
— Clandestine (@WarClandestine) April 7, 2025
He offered his what sounded like sneering congratulations for extracting that much money from the US: 'Congratulations, by the way. That's pretty good.'
Netanyahu had to sit there and smile.
'We give Israel billions of dollars a year,' Trump continued. 'Billions. It's one of the highest of anyone. We give a lot of countries money, you wouldn't believe it.'
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