Gambiaj.com – (Washington, DC) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s highly anticipated visit to the White House ended without the political victories he once easily secured under former U.S. President Donald Trump. Instead, the meeting highlighted shifting dynamics, with Trump prioritizing American interests over Netanyahu’s requests.

No Relief on Tariffs for Israel

The central agenda of the meeting was to discuss the new 17% tariff the U.S. imposed on Israeli exports. In an attempt to avoid the tariffs, Israel had preemptively eliminated its own trade barriers on American products a day before the meeting. Despite Netanyahu’s assurances that Israel would act swiftly to remove trade deficits, Trump remained unmoved.

In fact, Trump refused to commit to reducing fresh tariffs on Israeli exports despite Netanyahu’s promises. “Maybe not, maybe not,” Trump responded when asked if he would reconsider the tariffs, citing the $4 billion in annual U.S. aid to Israel as a sufficient economic commitment.

A Surprise Announcement on Iran

Netanyahu had hoped for a show of unity with Trump regarding Iran, with Israeli media speculating that military strikes against the Islamic Republic could be on the table. Instead, Trump announced that the U.S. and Iran were set to begin nuclear talks on Saturday—news that reportedly caught Netanyahu off guard.

Israeli officials expressed dismay at the announcement, with two sources confirming to CNN that the revelation was “certainly not” to Israel’s liking.

Netanyahu later insisted that any agreement with Iran must follow the 2003 “Libyan-style” model, in which Libya fully dismantled its nuclear program. He also claimed to have discussed military options with Trump at length, though no commitments were made.

Erdogan Praised as Netanyahu Sidelined

In an unexpected twist, Trump used the press conference to praise Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan—a vocal critic of Netanyahu and Israel’s war in Gaza. Erdogan has repeatedly condemned Netanyahu, even calling for divine punishment against him.

“I have great relations with a man named Erdogan,” Trump said. “He’s a tough guy. He’s very smart.”

Former Israeli Ambassador to Turkey Alon Liel described the moment as “especially embarrassing for Netanyahu,” given Erdogan’s recent inflammatory remarks about Israel.

Hostage Talks and the Gaza War: a Diplomatic Setback for Netanyahu

Trump did offer Netanyahu some political cover, acknowledging efforts to secure the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. However, he also suggested a ceasefire was inevitable. “I think the war will stop at some point, and that won’t be in the too-distant future,” Trump stated. Such a stance complicates matters for Netanyahu, whose government depends on far-right factions that oppose ending the war.

Netanyahu’s visit, which he had touted as a high-priority diplomatic engagement, ultimately yielded no concrete gains. With no relief on tariffs, no alignment on Iran, and no strategic wins in Gaza, Netanyahu returns to Israel politically weakened.

“Bibi is coming back home with empty, empty hands. Not Iran, not Gaza, not the kidnapped people. Nothing at all,” remarked Ronni Shaked of Hebrew University’s Truman Institute.

As Netanyahu navigates these setbacks, the broader implications of a U.S. administration increasingly focused on its own interests remain to be seen.

Source: CNN