‘He knows who’s boss’: Trump says Netanyahu asked for meeting, suggests visit could happen next week- Report | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested a meeting, with a visit to the White House possible as early as next week after Trump returns from a NATO summit, according to Axios.
Trump suggested in a telephone interview with news outlets on Saturday that the two leaders remain on good terms despite recent tensions over Israeli military actions and US policy toward Iran.
Trump: “He knows who’s boss”
According to an intelligence source, Trump indicated that a visit to the White House could take place soon.
“We get along very well. (Netanyahu) knows who’s boss,” Trump told the newspaper, referring to himself.
If the meeting takes place, it would mark the first face-to-face talks between the two leaders since they met in the White House Situation Room in February.
The date of the meeting is still uncertain
According to the reporter, an Israeli official said next week’s meeting could be difficult because of Trump’s planned trip to Turkey for a July 7-8 NATO summit.
“It could be held a week after,” said the official quoted by the portal.
Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the Israeli prime minister spoke with Trump on Friday to congratulate the United States on its 250th Independence Day.
In a statement cited by Axios, Netanyahu’s office said the two leaders “agreed to meet soon in the United States.”
Trump’s team was reportedly frustrated with Netanyahu
Relations between Trump and Netanyahu have reportedly soured in recent months, despite plans for another meeting.
The portal quoted an American official as saying that many in Trump’s inner circle have lost confidence in the Israeli prime minister.
“Many of Trump’s closest advisers think Bibi was wrong about everything,” the official told Axios.
Trump also criticized Netanyahu during a phone call last month, reportedly calling him a “lunatic” over Israel’s military escalation in Lebanon and accusing him of ingratitude.
Differences with Iran and Lebanon
Trump’s foreign policy priorities increasingly diverged from Netanyahu’s.
Trump reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding last month extending the truce with Iran and resuming nuclear talks despite objections from the Israeli government.
Trump also reportedly urged Netanyahu to limit Israeli military operations in Lebanon and support a framework agreement involving an initial Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, as ongoing fighting has become an obstacle to negotiations with Tehran.
Trump said negotiations with Iran were suspended during Khamenei’s funeral
Trump claimed that Iran remains interested in reaching a nuclear deal.
“They’re begging for a deal,” Trump said.
However, according to him, both Washington and Tehran have agreed to suspend negotiations until the events surrounding the funeral of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei are over.
“They’re all there. One shot (and we can take them all out), but we’re not going to do that because then we’d have nobody to negotiate with,” Trump told the newspaper.
Trump also said he was surprised by the scenes of public mourning during Khamenei’s funeral.
“Maybe these are fake tears,” he mused, according to Axios, adding that he expected many Iranians to dislike the late leader.
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