Why Trump is Snubbing Netanyahu: The End of a ‘Special Relationship’

Once a close ally, the relationship between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to be deteriorating. Trump has demonstratively ignored Netanyahu, excluding Israel from his Middle East tour, negotiating directly with Hamas and Iran, and pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza without consulting Jerusalem. This shift raises questions about how Netanyahu went from receiving a triumphant welcome at the White House to being silently isolated.
According to the New York Times, Trump no longer buys what Netanyahu is selling. On May 12, American-Israeli soldier and dual citizen Eden Alexander was released by Hamas in Gaza after direct negotiations between the US and Hamas, without Israel’s involvement. The American negotiator Adam Becker, who had previously engaged directly with Hamas in March, accompanied Alexander’s mother on the flight from the US to Israel. The media focused on Trump’s phone call with Alexander, sending a clear message: it was Trump, not Netanyahu, who secured the soldier’s release.
Today, Netanyahu finds himself increasingly isolated. He can no longer blame the Biden administration or other Israeli officials for failing to defeat Hamas, nor can he fault Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar, whom Israel reportedly targeted on May 13. The White House seems fully aware that Netanyahu is a weak Israeli leader with little substantial to offer Trump, who now prioritizes trade, business, and the Nobel Peace Prize over funding an endless war.
The dramatic change marks a significant departure. When Trump won the election, Netanyahu believed he had gained a strong ally in the White House. The same president who recognized the annexation of the Golan Heights by Israel and moved the US embassy to Jerusalem in his first term is now leaving Netanyahu more isolated, humiliated, and ineffective than ever.
As diplomatic tensions rise around the tragic events in Gaza, Netanyahu faces mounting international pressure due to images of starvation circulating globally and the ongoing war he promised to end. According to Axios, Trump reportedly expressed full disappointment with Netanyahu’s actions during discussions with US officials, emphasizing that Israel must immediately cease hostilities. Despite denials from both US and Israeli officials that Trump plans to abandon support for Israel or exert intense pressure on Netanyahu, they admit growing political differences between a president seeking peace and a prime minister escalating conflict.
Trump’s upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE—excluding Israel—sends a loud message. Analysts see this as evidence that Trump is abandoning the policy of unconditional support for Israel. Without results, there will be no visit to Israel. What was once a ‘special relationship’ now resembles a monologue. Trump, according to former diplomat Alon Pinkas, isn’t against Israel—he simply doesn’t care unless there’s personal benefit, whether political or economic. And currently, the Emirates, Saudis, and Qatar offer far more than Netanyahu does.