Trump Cuts Contact with Netanyahu, Accuses Israeli PM of Manipulation — Reports
Washington (Quds News Network)- Close associates of Trump told Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer that Trump has decided to cut direct contact with Netanyahu, reported Israeli Army Radio. The reason behind Trump’s decision is that he believes Netanyahu is manipulating him.
Trump’s team reportedly told Dermer that the president “hates being manipulated more than anything else.”
An Israeli official told the station that Dermer’s usual arrogance failed to change minds during talks with top Republican figures.
Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom confirmed the rift. It quoted Trump allies saying the relationship between Trump and Netanyahu has hit its lowest point yet.
They accused Netanyahu of breaking promises and refusing to move forward on agreed-upon plans, particularly regarding Trump’s Middle East strategy.
“Netanyahu is stalling. He’s not cooperating,” the sources told the paper. “He’s not executing what we agreed on.”
Trump reportedly wants Israel to take specific steps to support his broader vision for the Middle East. But Netanyahu, according to sources, has refused to cooperate.
One Israeli official told Israel Hayom that Trump is intentionally sidelining Netanyahu in hopes he’ll “return to the right track.”
That same source warned that Trump is not planning to visit Israel anytime soon, a stark change from his prior support.
Adding to the frustration, Israeli officials are urging the Trump administration to consider domestic sensitivities around any talk of a Palestinian state. According to the report, Dermer spent hours drafting language that merely hints at future Palestinian statehood.
Earlier, Israel Hayom reported that Trump feels disappointed in Netanyahu and is preparing to take unilateral steps in the Middle East, especially regarding agreements with Saudi Arabia, without Israel’s input.
Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has offered Netanyahu nearly unconditional support, even as Israel’s genocide in Gaza draws international backlash.
Still, unnamed sources quoted by Israel Hayom say the personal relationship between the two leaders is deteriorating.
Two senior Trump allies reportedly said in private that Trump will no longer wait for Israel and will push ahead with his regional plans.
The nature of Trump’s planned steps remains unclear. However, Israeli officials are increasingly concerned about being excluded from key U.S. decisions.
One example: a ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Yemen’s Houthi movement that excluded Israel entirely. Tel Aviv reportedly was not informed before the deal was announced.
As tensions grow, many in Israel fear that Trump’s patience with Netanyahu has finally run out—and that the U.S. may now chart its own course in the Middle East, with or without Israeli input.
