Netanyahu Hails Trump Meeting as ‘One of the Best’ Ever

“It was one of the best conversations I have ever had with a president of the United States,” Netanyahu said.

By United with Israel Staff

President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an 80-minute meeting at the White House Tuesday focused primarily on Iran, with Netanyahu later calling it one of the strongest meetings he has ever had with an American president.

“I have just concluded an excellent meeting with President Trump,” Netanyahu said afterward. “It was a conversation marked by full partnership, mutual support, and a shared understanding of our common goal: ensuring that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon. It was one of the best conversations I have ever had with a president of the United States.”

According to Israeli officials, the meeting came at a critical moment, with Trump expected to make a decision soon on the future of U.S. policy toward Iran.

A senior Israeli official familiar with the preparations said Netanyahu presented Israel’s assessment that additional strikes on Iran may be necessary, targeting rebuilt nuclear facilities and other strategic assets capable of undermining the regime.

“We are at a critical juncture,” the official said. “President Trump will make a decision soon about the path forward. We are not pressuring him, but neither are we burying our heads in the sand. Netanyahu presented him with Israel’s perspective.”

Israeli officials described the meeting as “very good” and “highly positive,” saying the two leaders discussed all regional fronts, with Iran at the top of the agenda. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and also discussed the strong U.S.-Israel alliance and broader opportunities in the Middle East.

Unlike previous meetings between the two leaders, the talks were held entirely in an expanded format, with no private one-on-one session and no joint press conference afterward.

The American delegation included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Netanyahu was joined by National Security Adviser Shmuel Ben Ezra, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter, Chief of Staff Ido Norden, Military Secretary Guy Markizano, senior adviser Caroline Glick, and diplomatic adviser Ophir Falk.

A White House spokeswoman also described the meeting as “positive and productive.”

An Israeli official in Washington said Trump did not demand that Israel withdraw from any of its security zones in Gaza, Lebanon, or Syria during the talks.

The meeting comes as Trump weighs whether to continue pursuing diplomacy with Iran or authorize further military action. While Vice President Vance and Witkoff have favored diplomatic engagement, Rubio has generally taken a more hawkish approach.