A diminished Bibi arrives for his moment with Trump
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Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with Donald Trump in the Oval Office Tuesday for the eighth time since the president returned to office. But the Israeli prime minister arrives at the White House weaker and less influential than the previous seven times.
Why it matters: On Feb. 28, Trump and Netanyahu went to war together and it looked like there was no daylight between them. But exactly five months later, their interests have diverged more than ever — and bad blood and frustration have deepened as they've grown suspicious of each other's intentions.
Driving the news: Netanyahu's visit comes several days after Trump paused U.S. strikes in Iran and announced his envoys are trying — again — to negotiate a deal with the Iranian regime.
Behind the scenes: In the first few months of the war, Trump and Netanyahu spoke almost every day to coordinate and exchange views. But in recent weeks, their phone calls have become more and more infrequent.
Zoom in: Since the April 8 ceasefire , Netanyahu's influence over Trump's war policies and decision-making has been gradually diminishing.
Case in point: Two weeks ago, Netanyahu was unable to persuade Trump not to move forward with a deal to sell F-35s to Turkey.
Between the lines: Netanyahu is deeply unpopular in Washington these days, among Democrats, Trump's close circle and the MAGA base.
Yes, but: Netanyahu has managed several times before to go into meetings with Trump concerned and come out having gotten what he wanted, with Trump more aligned with him than before.
What to watch: Netanyahu is facing an election in three months that will be crucial not only for his political survival but also for his personal freedom.
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