All posts tagged "Benjamin Netanyahu"

President Donald Trump's shifting relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be a boon for Vice President JD Vance's 2028 presidential ambitions, an analyst reported on Wednesday.

Jonathan V. Last, editor of The Bulwark, explained that a split between America and Israel could redefine the MAGA coalition. Although Vance is in a tough position with pro-war Republicans furious over the surrender and blaming the vice president — instead of Trump — he could also win over America First isolationists who have been skeptical of the relationship with Israel.

"Playing the part of Trump’s surrender monkey queers Vance with both wings of MAGA," Last wrote. ...

President Donald Trump has stayed out of the public eye for the second day after negotiations with Iran were suspended, according to reports on Tuesday.

Trump was reportedly furious during a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel's escalating military campaign in Lebanon, a condition that Iran cited as a reason to halt talks over a ceasefire with the United States. And after the derailed negotiations on Monday, Trump has stayed "out of sight," David Gardner, The Daily Beast's D.C. Bureau Chief, wrote in a post for The Swamp, The Daily Beast's Substack.

"The episode is called ‘Don’t Mention the War,’ and The Swamp suspects that is the very sentiment at the White House today after the president’s comically contradictory comments about his Iran War on Monday," Gardner wrote....

President Donald Trump has signaled plans for an "endgame in the Iran war," infuriating a key ally, according to a report from The Atlantic published Thursday.

Robert Kagan, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and contributor to The Atlantic, described how a Trump administration insider revealed that during a phone call on Wednesday with Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump determined the next steps with Iran. The president reportedly told Netanyahu his plan to negotiate a "letter of intent" and that Iran would "formally end the war and launch a 30-day period of negotiations" focusing on Iran's nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz.

"The purpose and effect of such an agreement should be clear: The United States is walking away from the crisis," Kagan wrote. "Trump may launch another limited strike to look tough and satisfy the demands of the war’s supporters, but it would be a performative gesture. Endgame in this case is a euphemism for 'surrender.'"...

World leaders were reportedly anxious after President Donald Trump's demand for his proposed "Board of Peace for Gaza" signing ceremony ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, according to reports Monday.

The clock was ticking as the international community was pressured to decide on accepting Trump's membership for $1 billion as insiders revealed confusion over the president's invitation and push, according to a Bloomberg report. Trump sent out the invite over the weekend and has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarus's autocratic leader, Alexander Lukashenko, among others, to join.

"Trump wants the full constitution and remit of the committee signed in Davos on Thursday, according to people familiar with the matter. But some elements of the small print have left invitees wondering whether to accept," Bloomberg reported. ...

White House envoy Steve Witkoff revealed that military strikes in Iran might not be off the table for the United States as diplomatic talks continue.

The top Trump administration aide told Axios that President Donald Trump had a second phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday night — the second call in two days. Netanyahu reportedly told Trump Wednesday to hold off on attacks in Iran to give Israel time to prepare its defense strategy for a potential retaliation attack.

"It was one of the reasons Trump decided to delay orders for the U.S. military to move forward with a strike against Iran," Axios reported. "U.S. officials say military action is still on the table if Iran resumes killing protesters. Israeli officials think that despite the delay, a U.S. military strike could take place in the coming days."...

President Donald Trump appeared to fumble during a joint news conference Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — where he announced a proposed ceasefire and peace plan for Gaza — and the internet quickly noticed.

"Time ago we had a historic phone call in the Oval Office with Prime Minister [Nawaf Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-] Thani, a great, great person, so we had a great talk and I was on the phone and Bibi [Benjamin Netanyahu] was talking to Prime Minister Al-Thani, of Qatar, was... they really had a heart-to-heart conversation, it was a great conversation, I thought," Trump said.

Social media users had quite a few initial thoughts on the president's demeanor, including mention of his previous attacks on former President Joe Biden, whom he often referred to as "sleepy Joe," and questions over whether Trump is mentally fit to serve in the executive office. ...