Former President Donald J. Trump is set to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday. Trump, who considers himself a strong supporter of Israel, made the announcement on social media, expressing his excitement to welcome Netanyahu to his private club and residence.
The meeting between the two leaders comes after Netanyahu’s speech to Congress in Washington on Wednesday and his meeting with President Biden at the White House on Thursday. Initially, Trump had mentioned different dates for the meeting, but it was finally confirmed to take place on Friday at Netanyahu’s request.
During Trump’s presidency, he and Netanyahu shared a close alliance. However, their relationship faced challenges when Netanyahu congratulated President Biden on his election victory, a move that Trump viewed as disloyal. Following deadly attacks by Hamas on Israel, Trump criticized Netanyahu and Israeli intelligence officials for being ill-prepared. Despite this, Trump has since softened his stance and expressed support for Israel’s right to self-defense. He has also condemned pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses and indicated his backing for a more robust response in Gaza.
The upcoming meeting between Trump and Netanyahu will be closely watched for any indications of the current state of their relationship and potential implications for US-Israeli ties. Stay tuned for updates on this significant encounter between the two leaders.