Trump: "Israel Would Not Have Survived" Without Bibi

U.S. President Donald Trump offered sweeping praise for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, saying that “without Netanyahu, Israel would not have survived,” as the two leaders met at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Speaking at the start of their meeting, Trump said Netanyahu had “made an amazing deal and pulled Israel out of trauma,” describing him as a decisive wartime leader. Trump repeatedly emphasized the strength of their personal relationship, portraying Netanyahu’s leadership as central to Israel’s ability to withstand the past year of conflict.

The meeting included a private lunch and was intended to address several major regional issues, including the war in Gaza, Iran, and developments in Judea and Samaria. Trump said ahead of time that he planned to discuss five major topics and suggested early on that progress had been made on several of them. However, after more than an hour, neither side announced concrete agreements or new milestones.

Instead, the public portion of the meeting focused largely on mutual praise. Netanyahu said Israel has never had a stronger ally in the White House, calling Trump’s support unprecedented. Trump responded by asserting that Israel, under most other leadership combinations, “would not exist today.”

Netanyahu also announced that he intends to award Trump Israel’s highest civilian honor for excellence and peace, calling the move a deliberate break from convention meant to recognize Trump’s role in strengthening Israel’s security and international standing. Trump said he was surprised by the announcement and expressed appreciation for the gesture.

Despite the warm tone, policy differences remain. Trump acknowledged ongoing disagreements over Judea and Samaria, where Israel has intensified military activity since the October 7, 2023 attacks. Trump reiterated that he opposes Israeli annexation of the territory, a position shared by many Western and Arab governments, while noting that discussions on the issue have been ongoing for years.

“I wouldn’t say we agree on the West Bank 100%,” Trump said.

On Gaza, Trump dismissed concerns that Israel is delaying movement toward a second phase of a potential agreement, placing responsibility on Hamas rather than on Israel’s government. No new announcements were made regarding ceasefire extensions, hostage releases, or postwar governance arrangements.

Netanyahu’s visit was the second high-profile meeting with a foreign leader at Mar-a-Lago in as many days, part of a broader end-of-year foreign policy push by Trump. While the meeting underscored the close personal and political alignment between the two leaders, it left key questions about Gaza, the West Bank, and Iran unresolved.