Arabic version: ترامب يقترح زيارة نتنياهو المرتقبة إلى البيت الأبيض

US President Donald Trump has hinted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could travel to the White House as soon as next week, in what would be his first visit since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran. According to Al Jazeera, Trump mentioned that Netanyahu had requested the meeting during an interview with Axios.

The potential meeting is expected to occur following Trump’s return from the NATO summit scheduled for July 7 and 8 in Ankara, Turkiye. Despite public tensions between the two leaders, Trump downplayed any speculation of a rift, asserting his authority over Netanyahu. “We get along very good. [Netanyahu] knows who the boss is,” Trump stated.

The US has historically been a staunch ally of Israel, being the first country to recognize the state in 1948. Since then, Israel has received more US foreign assistance than any other nation. Under Trump’s administration, the US has engaged in two wars against Iran, with the latest conflict facing significant criticism for being viewed as an unprovoked act of aggression.

Trump’s approval ratings have slipped, particularly as a recent poll indicated that 60 percent of US voters believe the war against Iran is “not worth it.” Despite this, the Trump administration defends its military involvement as necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The situation remains complex, with ongoing hostilities and a fragile ceasefire in the region. Should Netanyahu arrive in Washington, DC, this month, it would mark his seventh trip to the US during Trump’s second term, a record for foreign leaders during this administration.