Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has historically emphasized his close political and personal ties to the United States as proof of his indispensability to Israel. Having spent much of his youth in the US and adopting a polished American accent, Netanyahu reportedly leveraged his deep understanding of US politics to secure unwavering support from multiple presidents for Israel and his own political agenda.

For a period, former US President Donald Trump appeared to be the most supportive leader towards Netanyahu and Israel, notably becoming the first US president to agree to a joint war effort with Israel against Iran. Netanyahu’s influence was highlighted by multiple White House visits, including a seventh visit hosted by Trump despite political risks.

However, with the war against Iran stalling and Trump increasingly willing to negotiate Middle East deals without Israeli involvement, Netanyahu’s so-called "Trump card" is perceived within Israel as losing its effectiveness. Tensions have reportedly risen since the war’s outset, particularly after reports that Netanyahu convinced Trump of the mission’s feasibility and the possibility of overthrowing the Iranian regime.

Israeli commentator Barak noted, “We’ve seen tension through Trump’s comments on the various F-35 sales, including most recently to Turkiye, as well as US criticism of Netanyahu at the start of the Iran war, so I’m not too sure if Trump’s going to be stumping for Netanyahu for all that much longer.” He added that Trump might soon acknowledge Netanyahu as a great wartime leader but suggest it is time for Israel to move forward, potentially endorsing a new Israeli prime minister.

This evolving dynamic comes amid increasing criticism of Israel within the US and a sense that Netanyahu’s unique influence in Washington may be waning.

Sources