Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long viewed his close ties with the United States, both politically and personally, as evidence of his indispensable role for Israel.
With a flawless American accent honed during years spent in the US, Netanyahu is believed to have used his deep understanding of American politics to persuade successive US presidents to maintain unwavering support for Israel and his own political projects.
At one point, President Donald Trump seemed the most accommodating among them, particularly when he became the first US leader to ally with Israel in the fight against Iran.
However, as that war has stalled, Trump has shown greater flexibility in Middle East deals without Israel's input, and amid a rising tide of criticism of Israel within the US, many in Israel believe Netanyahu's Trump card is no longer as effective as it once was.
This comes at a difficult time for Netanyahu, with an October election looming, an ongoing corruption trial, and numerous unresolved regional conflicts.
His Tuesday visit to Washington to meet Trump is an opportunity to burnish his image and create a photo opportunity to remind Israeli voters of his relationship with the US president.
Image vs. reality
Tensions in the Netanyahu-Trump relationship have escalated since the start of the Iran campaign, following reports that the Israeli prime minister himself convinced the US president of the mission's feasibility and the possibility of toppling the Iranian regime.
The US Congress has also grown increasingly concerned about Netanyahu's tacit support for violent settler movements in Israel, including the extrajudicial detention of a US senator, and disagreements over the decision to consider selling F-35 jets to Türkiye—a regional rival of Israel—and a nuclear cooperation deal with Saudi Arabia.
“The real reason for this visit is purely political,” Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli ambassador, told Al Jazeera. “He said he flew to the US for the funeral of his great friend Lindsey Graham, but in reality it's two things: reassure allies and opponents that his relationship with Trump remains strong, and hope Trump calls for a pardon in his corruption trial.”
While Netanyahu may hope a smooth meeting boosts his approval ratings, his standing in the US is at an all-time low. He faces criticism from right-wing figures such as Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene. Vice President JD Vance has also suggested that certain members of the Israeli government are undermining the ceasefire deal he brokered with Iran.
When asked about Netanyahu's public opposition to selling F-35s to Türkiye, Trump declared: “No one tells me what to sell.”
“Netanyahu arrives in Washington at a time when even Trump's closest allies are suspicious of him,” said Ahron Bregman, an Israeli security analyst. “He is seen as the one who dragged Trump into a war of choice and turned it into a strategic disaster. Even Trump won't let him pretend he's the smartest guy in the room.”
“Netanyahu once had a fantastic track record with the US, but now he has burned many bridges,” said Mitchell Barak, an Israeli pollster and former Netanyahu aide. “Tensions have risen over Trump's comments on F-35 sales, criticism of the Iran war... I'm not sure Trump will campaign for Netanyahu much longer. He may declare Netanyahu a great wartime leader, but it's time for Israel to move on.”
