Overview
- White House officials told Axios they were surprised by Israeli reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be hosted in Washington and said no meeting had been placed on President Trump’s schedule.
- The immediate flashpoint was Netanyahu’s Fox News interview criticizing a proposed U.S. sale of F-35 jets to Türkiye, a move that two White House aides said left the president angry and convinced Netanyahu had no right to intervene in the arms decision.
- Netanyahu’s office confirmed a planned Washington trip was canceled after Senator Lindsey Graham’s memorial service was postponed, and U.S. aides said the Israeli leader had been trying for more than two weeks to arrange a meeting.
- Reporting by administration insiders describes a wider, months-long deterioration in the leaders’ relationship over the Gaza war and diplomacy with Iran, with U.S. officials warning the rift has harmed routine coordination.
- The dispute could affect future arms diplomacy and regional strategy because it highlights frayed personal ties, public breakdowns in communications, and U.S. concern about Israeli actions on talks with Tehran.