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U.S. President Donald Trump said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "knows who the boss is," telling Axios that Netanyahu had requested a White House meeting that could take place as early as next week after Trump returns from the NATO summit in Türkiye.
"We get along very good. (Netanyahu) knows who the boss is," Trump said in a brief phone interview with Axios, referring to himself.
The meeting would be the first between the two leaders since their Situation Room meeting in February, when Netanyahu presented his plan for launching a joint war against Iran, according to Axios.
An Israeli official said next week might be too soon given Trump's trip to Türkiye for the NATO summit on July 7-8. "It might take place the week after," the official said.
Netanyahu's office said the prime minister called Trump on Friday to congratulate him on the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.
"During their conversation, the Prime Minister said that the United States is a guarantor of global freedom and that Israel greatly values the close relationship between the two nations. Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump agreed to meet soon in the United States," Netanyahu's office said.
People in Trump's orbit have grown increasingly skeptical and disillusioned with Netanyahu in the months since their February meeting, Axios reported.
"Many of Trump's closest advisers think that Bibi was wrong about everything," a U.S. official told Axios.
Trump lashed out at Netanyahu over Israel's escalation in Lebanon in a phone call last month, calling the prime minister "crazy" and accusing him of ingratitude, according to Axios.
The tensions have deepened a broader Republican rift over Israel and the war, with some MAGA influencers accusing Trump of being beholden to Netanyahu.
A meeting would be hugely important for Netanyahu as he begins campaigning for the October elections in Israel, where polls currently have him trailing, Axios reported.
A CNN source familiar with the matter said the two leaders will discuss Iran and a new security agreement between Israel and the U.S. The current agreement, under which Israel receives $3.8 billion per year, is set to expire in 2028.
Normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia will also be on the agenda, according to the CNN source.
Saudi leaders have repeatedly said they will not move toward normalization without a viable path to a Palestinian state.
Despite Netanyahu's reservations, Trump signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last month extending the ceasefire with Iran and launching fresh nuclear talks, according to Axios.
Trump also pressed Netanyahu to restrain Israeli military operations in Lebanon and to sign a framework agreement requiring an initial withdrawal from the south.
Trump also told Axios he was following the funeral of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, adding that the Iranians "are begging to make a deal."
He said both sides had decided to pause talks for a week until the funeral events surrounding Khamenei conclude, with neither side shooting at the other in the meantime.
"They are all there. One shot (and we can take them all out), but we are not going to do that because then we would have nobody to negotiate with," Trump said.
Trump said he was surprised to see Iranians crying at the funeral, adding that he thought people hated Khamenei. "Maybe it's fake tears," Trump said.
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