Netanyahu denies rift with Trump as meeting nears

Netanyahu denies – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected claims of a rift with President Donald Trump in a Sunday interview, insisting the two leaders can disagree without breaking the U.S.-Israel partnership. Netanyahu said the leaders spoke Friday after he congrat

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he doesn’t see daylight between himself and President Donald Trump—even as Washington prepares for a delicate stretch of diplomacy with Tehran.

In an interview that aired Sunday on Fox News’ “The Sunday Briefing,” Netanyahu denied there was a rift between him and Trump and described the two countries as partners who can disagree without letting their alliance break.

“I think America has no greater ally than Israel, and Israel has no greater ally than the United States,” Netanyahu said, adding that Trump follows U.S. interests while he acts in Israel’s interests and that the two governments “see eye to eye” most of the time.

His office said the leaders spoke Friday, after Netanyahu congratulated Trump on the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. In a statement, Netanyahu said the United States was “a guarantor of global freedom” and that Israel deeply valued the relationship, according to the office.

Netanyahu and Trump also agreed to meet in the United States “in the near future,” his office said.

The timeline, however, has been publicly contested in tone. Axios reported Saturday that Trump said Netanyahu asked for a White House meeting and that it could happen as early as next week after Trump returns from a NATO summit. Trump told Axios in a brief phone interview, “We get along very good. Netanyahu knows who the boss is,” referring to himself.

For Netanyahu, the push to smooth friction comes as the U.S. moves toward talks with Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program—an issue that Netanyahu framed as a shared priority with Washington.

The prime minister said the allies have the same objective: preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, or the ability to produce them. “Deal or no deal, as long as I’m prime minister, Iran will not have nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu also pushed back on Vice President JD Vance’s warning that Israel should not risk alienating its most powerful ally. Netanyahu said he respected Vance but did not agree with everything he said. calling Trump “the greatest friend” Israel has had in the White House while arguing that Israel has support from other countries as well.

Asked about signals that support for Israel may be eroding among some U.S. voters. including younger Americans. Netanyahu said he was worried about anti-Israel sentiment and argued that some of it is linked to anti-American views. He blamed social media and foreign influence efforts for shaping opinion, but offered no specific evidence during the interview.

Netanyahu rejected criticism that Israel has settled into a permanent state of war. He pointed to the Abraham Accords, saying weakened Iranian influence could create openings for additional regional agreements. He also insisted Israel would continue to defend itself against threats.

The denial of a rift—and the prospect of a quick White House meeting—lands at a moment when the U.S. is trying to manage Iran’s nuclear ambitions and Israel is trying to ensure its own red lines are understood before diplomacy hardens into outcomes.

Where the relationship goes next may depend on how quickly the planned U.S. meeting happens, and what both leaders decide to do with Tehran in the meantime—because Netanyahu made clear he intends to treat the nuclear issue as non-negotiable, even if negotiations change the calendar.

Benjamin Netanyahu Donald Trump U.S.-Israel relations JD Vance Iran nuclear program Tehran talks Abraham Accords NATO summit White House meeting