‘Bibi knows who the boss is’: Trump comments on possible White House meeting with Netanyahu

Washington DC: US President Donald Trump has indicated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested a meeting at the White House, potentially occurring as early as next week, following Trump’s return from the NATO summit, according to a report by Axios.

"We get along very good. [Netanyahu] knows who the boss is," Trump remarked during a brief telephone interview with the outlet.

The proposed session would mark the first formal engagement between the two leaders since their February meeting, during which Netanyahu reportedly outlined a strategy for a joint conflict against Iran. An Israeli official noted that a meeting as early as next week may be premature due to Trump’s scheduled attendance at the NATO summit in Turkey on 7–8 July, suggesting it might be delayed until the following week.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that Netanyahu spoke with Trump on Friday to convey his congratulations on the 250th anniversary of American independence.

"During their conversation, the Prime Minister said that the United States is a guarantor of global freedom, and that Israel greatly values the close relationship between the two nations. Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump agreed to meet soon in the United States," the statement read.

Despite the planned meeting, the report highlights growing scepticism towards Netanyahu within Trump’s inner circle since their February discussions. "Many of Trump's closest advisers think that Bibi was wrong about everything," one US official told Axios.

Furthermore, Trump reportedly expressed frustration with Netanyahu during a phone call last month, purportedly labelling him "crazy" and accusing him of ingratitude regarding Israel’s military escalation in Lebanon. Tensions between the two administrations have reportedly increased due to diverging views on regional security, Iran, and domestic policy.

Last month, Trump signed a Memorandum of Understanding to extend a ceasefire with Iran and restart nuclear negotiations, while simultaneously pressuring Netanyahu to reduce military operations in Lebanon. For the Israeli Prime Minister, a White House visit holds significant political weight as he faces a challenging landscape ahead of October’s elections, where he currently trails his political opponents.

In the interview, Trump also addressed the ongoing funeral proceedings for Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint US-Israeli operation at the onset of the current conflict. Trump asserted that Tehran is "begging to make a deal," noting that both parties have agreed to a one-week pause in negotiations to allow the funeral events to pass, during which time no military action will be taken.

"They are all there. One shot [and we can take them all out], but we are not going to do that because then we would have nobody to negotiate with," Trump said. He also remarked on the public displays of mourning at the funeral, questioning their authenticity. "Maybe it's fake tears," he said.

With inputs from ANI