Five Signs Trump and Netanyahu's Relationship is Worsening
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Israel has dismissed a New York Times report that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to disrupt U.S.-Iran nuclear deal talks by targeting Iran's main enrichment facilities, calling it "fake news."
But the report nonetheless highlighted deepening tensions between Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump, who is eager to secure a deal despite Israeli concerns over Tehran's nuclear program. This dispute is one of several signs revealing a worsening relationship between the two leaders, reflecting broader disagreements on Iran, regional conflicts, economic policy, and diplomatic priorities.
Newsweek has reached out to the White House and the Israeli prime ministers office for comment.
Why It Matters
While the broader U.S.-Israel alliance remains strategically robust, the relationship between Trump and Netanyahu has frayed significantly. Though much of the current tension revolves around policy disputes—over Iran, Gaza, and regional diplomacy—the personal rift between the two leaders began earlier.
One notable rupture came in 2020, when Netanyahu publicly congratulated Joe Biden on his election win. Trump, who still disputes the result, saw the move as a betrayal. "The first person that congratulated [Biden] was Bibi [Benjamin] Netanyahu, the man that I did more for than any other person I dealt with. He has made a terrible mistake," Trump said in an interview. That moment marked an early turning point in their relationship, which has since been defined by policy disagreements and reduced personal alignment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin (L) talks to U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on April 7, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump is meeting with Netanyahu...
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin (L) talks to U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on April 7, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump is meeting with Netanyahu to discuss ongoing efforts to release Israeli hostages from Gaza and newly imposed U.S. tariffs. More
Kevin Dietsch/AP Photo
What To Know
1. Iran Nuclear Talks
President Trump has taken a more diplomatic approach to the nuclear talks with Iran, seeking a deal that limits Tehran's program without resorting to military confrontation. In contrast, Netanyahu remains highly skeptical, repeatedly warning that any deal allowing Iran to maintain uranium enrichment facilities endangers Israel's security. Netanyahu has threatened military action even if diplomacy succeeds. Israeli officials worry that Trump's urgency to reach an agreement might lead to concessions unacceptable to Israel, particularly allowing Iran to keep enrichment sites that Netanyahu views as a "red line."
Trump has not turned against Israel, but he's not willing to make an exception to America first.
Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
2. Gaza Conflict
The recent release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander has sharpened tensions between Trump and Netanyahu, exposing their increasingly divergent strategies on Gaza. While Trump framed the release as a diplomatic breakthrough and a sign of progress toward a ceasefire, Netanyahu downplayed its significance and emphasized that no concessions were made to Hamas, signaling his continued focus on military objectives. This difference in tone reflects deeper disagreements: Trump has pushed for humanitarian access and de-escalation, backing a new Gaza aid delivery system aimed at bypassing Hamas. Netanyahu has supported the mechanism but remains primarily committed to a hardline campaign to dismantle Hamas, regardless of the mounting humanitarian toll.
Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander arrives in Israel after being released from Gaza, where he was held in Hamas captivity for 19 months, May 12, 2025, Israel, Reim.
Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander arrives in Israel after being released from Gaza, where he was held in Hamas captivity for 19 months, May 12, 2025, Israel, Reim.
Kobi Gideon/AP Photo
3. Yemen Ceasefire
Earlier this month, the Trump administration brokered a ceasefire agreement with the Houthi rebels in Yemen that does not cover Israel, a development that caught Israeli officials off guard. The Houthis have a history of targeting Israeli sites, including missile attacks near Ben Gurion Airport, and Israel was not consulted before the ceasefire announcement. This sidelining has fueled concerns that the U.S. is prioritizing broader regional diplomacy over Israeli security interests.
4. Economic Tensions
In April, President Trump imposed a 17 percent tariff on certain Israeli imports, citing concerns about the cost of U.S. financial aid to Israel and the need to protect American industries. This tariff shocked Israeli officials and businesses, raising questions about the future of economic cooperation. While trade between the two countries has historically been strong, the tariffs signaled a more transactional and contentious phase in economic relations.
US President Donald Trump delivers remarks on reciprocal tariffs as US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick holds a chart during an event in the Rose Garden entitled "Make America Wealthy Again" at the White House...
US President Donald Trump delivers remarks on reciprocal tariffs as US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick holds a chart during an event in the Rose Garden entitled "Make America Wealthy Again" at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 2, 2025. Trump geared up to unveil sweeping new "Liberation Day" tariffs in a move that threatens to ignite a devastating global trade war. Key US trading partners including the European Union and Britain said they were preparing their responses to Trump's escalation, as nervous markets fell in Europe and America. More5. Middle East Trip
Perhaps the clearest symbol of the fraying personal relationship was Trump's recent Middle East tour, which included visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE but conspicuously omitted Israel. Despite Israeli lobbying efforts, Trump chose not to include Netanyahu or Israeli officials on the trip. This decision raised eyebrows across the region, signaling a shift in U.S. diplomatic priorities away from the traditionally close U.S.-Israel axis and toward Gulf partners.
What People Are Saying
Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft told Newsweek: "Trump has not turned against Israel, but he's not willing to make an exception to America First. In matters that he finds important, he will not defer to Israel and allow Israel's interest to be prioritized over that of the U.S. So on Iran, Yemen, and Israel's efforts to push the U.S into more wars in the Middle East, he pushes back. But on Gaza, he is still deferring to Israel."
Israeli TV host and commentator Dana Fahn Luzon said: "Trump is signalling to Netanyahu, 'Honey, I've had enough of you.'"
What Happens Next
The widening rift between Trump and Netanyahu underscores a complex dynamic where personal and political disagreements threaten to overshadow a historically strong U.S.-Israel alliance. How these leaders navigate their differences will significantly influence the trajectory of regional diplomacy, security cooperation, and the broader stability of the Middle East.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
23 minutes ago
Republicans urge Donald Trump and Elon Musk to end their feud
WASHINGTON -- As the Republican Party braces for aftershocks from President Donald Trump's spectacular clash with Elon Musk, lawmakers and conservative figures are urging détente, fearful of the potential consequences from a prolonged feud. At a minimum, the explosion of animosity between the two powerful men could complicate the path forward for Republicans' massive tax and border spending legislation that has been promoted by Trump but assailed by Musk. 'I hope it doesn't distract us from getting the job done that we need to,' said Rep. Dan Newhouse, a Republican from Washington state. "I think that it will boil over and they'll mend fences' Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, was similarly optimistic. 'I hope that both of them come back together because when the two of them are working together, we'll get a lot more done for America than when they're at cross purposes,' he told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Thursday night. Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, sounded almost pained on social media as Trump and Musk volleyed insults at each other, sharing a photo composite of the two men and writing, "But … I really like both of them.' 'Who else really wants @elonmusk and @realDonaldTrump to reconcile?' Lee posted, later adding: 'Repost if you agree that the world is a better place with the Trump-Musk bromance fully intact.' So far, the feud between Trump and Musk is probably best described as a moving target, with plenty of opportunities for escalation or detente. One person familiar with the president's thinking said Musk wants to speak with Trump, but that the president doesn't want to do it – or at least do it on Friday. The person requested anonymity to disclose private matters. In a series of conversations with television anchors Friday morning, Trump showed no interest in burying the hatchet. Asked on ABC News about reports of a potential call between him and Musk, the president responded: 'You mean the man who has lost his mind?' Trump added in the ABC interview that he was 'not particularly' interested in talking to Musk at the moment. Still, others remained hopeful that it all would blow over. 'I grew up playing hockey and there wasn't a single day that we played hockey or basketball or football or baseball, whatever we were playing, where we didn't fight. And then we'd fight, then we'd become friends again,' Hannity said on his show Thursday night. Acknowledging that it 'got personal very quick,' Hannity nonetheless added that the rift was 'just a major policy difference.' House Speaker Mike Johnson projected confidence that the dispute would not affect prospects for the tax and border bill. 'Members are not shaken at all,' the Louisiana Republican said. 'We're going to pass this legislation on our deadline.' He added that he hopes Musk and Trump reconcile, saying 'I believe in redemption' and 'it's good for the party and the country if all that's worked out.' But he also had something of a warning for the billionaire entrepreneur. 'I'll tell you what, do not doubt and do not second-guess and don't ever challenge the president of the United States, Donald Trump,' Johnson said. "He is the leader of the party. He's the most consequential political figure of this generation and probably the modern era.'
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jeffries declines to embrace Musk amid the billionaire's feud with Trump
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is keeping his distance from Elon Musk even after the billionaire's extraordinary public rebuke of President Trump and the GOP's domestic agenda. Asked Friday if Musk's bitter break from Trump presents Democrats with an opportunity to form a strange-bedfellows alliance with the tech titan, Jeffries shifted the conversation immediately to the Democrats' efforts to kill Trump's 'big, beautiful bill.' 'The opportunity that exists right now is to kill the GOP tax scam,' Jeffries told reporters in the Capitol. 'It's legislation that we have been strongly opposed to, and uniformly opposed to, from the very beginning. … It rips health care away from millions of people. It snatches food out of the mouths of hungry children. And it rewards billionaires and [GOP] donors in ways that are fiscally irresponsible.' Pressed on whether Musk should be 'welcomed back' to the Democratic Party after the high-profile split from Trump, Jeffries punted again. 'Same answer,' he said. Jeffries's cautious remarks demonstrate the limits of the old adage that the enemy of one's enemy is one's friend. They also highlight the potential difficulties Democrats would face if they embraced a polarizing and nationally unpopular figure in Musk — one they've spent most of the last year bashing for heavy spending on Trump's campaign and, more recently, for his role in heading Trump's efforts to gut the federal government. Still, some Democrats say Musk's influence is significant enough that Democrats should make the effort to try to court him to their side amid the Trump feud. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who represents parts of Silicon Valley, is leading the charge. 'If Biden had a big supporter criticize him, Trump would have hugged him the next day,' Khanna posted Thursday on social platform X, which is owned by Musk. 'When we refused to meet with @RobertKennedyJr, Trump embraced him & won. We can be the party of sanctimonious lectures, or the party of FDR that knows how to win & build a progressive majority,' referring to former President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Jeffries isn't going nearly so far. But he has welcomed Musk's attacks on Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' and the Republicans who voted for it. And he aligned Democrats with Musk's sentiments that the package piles too much money onto the federal debt, a figure the Congressional Budget Office estimated to be $2.4 trillion. 'To the extent that Elon Musk has made the same point that everyone who has voted for this bill up until this moment should be ashamed of themselves, we agree,' Jeffries said. 'And to the extent that Elon Musk has made the point that the bill is a 'disgusting abomination,' we agree. And to the extent that Elon Musk has made the observation about the GOP tax scam — that it is reckless and irresponsible to explode the deficit by more than $3 trillion, and that potentially could set our country on a path toward bankruptcy — we agree.' 'These are arguments that Democrats have been making now for months.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Vance Sucks Up to Trump to Deny He's Part of Musk Coup Plot
J.D. Vance was forced to reaffirm his allegiance to President Trump after Elon Musk backed a call for the vice president to replace his boss. A spat between Musk and Trump over the president's 'big beautiful bill,' which the Tesla CEO denounced as a 'disgusting abomination,' has blown up into an all-out MAGA civil war, with Musk and Trump dramatically trading blows in public. On Thursday, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO replied 'Yes' to a post by an X user who asked: 'President vs Elon. Who wins? My money's on Elon. Trump should be impeached and Vance should replace him.' Musk publicly mused about starting a political party, and told his followers in a bombshell allegation that Trump was named in the Epstein files, signing off by saying: 'Have a nice day, DJT!' He added in a follow-up post, 'Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.' Vance also features in a conspiracy theory called 'Dark Enlightenment' or Dark MAGA" that suggests a secretive cabal of tech titans is plotting to blow up the government and rule as a giant corporation with a CEO instead of a president. The Silicon Valley plotters, including Musk, chose Vance as the person who would take over when Trump is toppled, according to the theory. Trump has yet to address the latest allegations personally. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement saying: 'This is an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' because it does not include the policies he wanted.' As the drama escalated, Vance posted a picture teasing a Friday appearance on the podcast of Trump-friendly comedian Theo Von. 'Slow news day, what are we even going to talk about?' Vance joked. In a follow-up post, the vice president added: 'President Trump has done more than any person in my lifetime to earn the trust of the movement he leads. I'm proud to stand beside him.' Musk and Trump's alliance began to unravel after the GOP-controlled House of Representatives narrowly passed Trump's flagship budget proposal last month. Before that, Musk had pushed Trump's agenda by leading his so-called Department of Government Efficiency, an initiative within the administration tasked with cutting government spending and jobs. Musk publicly attacked Trump's bill on the grounds that it would undermine his work with DOGE by adding trillions to the U.S. budget deficit. But on Thursday, Trump claimed that Musk was really upset about the effect the bill will have on his electric vehicle company, Tesla. 'I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn't do it!' the president added.
