United States President Donald Trump appeared frustrated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prior to their meeting at the White House on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. Speaking to Fox News just hours before the meeting in the Oval Office—their first since jointly launching the war with Iran on February 28—Trump said, “I don’t need Bibi to tell me that,” using Netanyahu’s nickname.

The meeting comes at a sensitive time as Trump indicated that the US and Iran are engaged in a renewed diplomatic push following a 13-day escalation. Despite this, US media reports have suggested that Netanyahu has repeatedly influenced Trump to take military action against Iran, including during the lead-up to last year’s 12-day war and the ongoing conflict now stretching over five months.

During the exchange, Trump also pushed back against Israel’s opposition to the US resuming its F-35 fighter jet program with Turkiye. Experts have described Israel’s approval of limited Gaza force as a calculated maneuver amid these tensions.

This meeting underscores the complex dynamics between the US, Israel, and Iran as diplomatic and military considerations continue to evolve.

Sources