Trump, Netanyahu and the cracks between US and Israel that are starting to show

Netanyahu has long presented his close ties with Trump as a political asset, while Trump confronts an electorate increasingly angry about the war. 2 min readJul 28, 2026 06:05 AM IST First published on: Jul 28, 2026 at 06:05 AM IST Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with President Donald Trump this week comes at a time of growing strain in the US-Israel relationship. This is because of diverging interests over the war with Iran, Israel’s military campaigns in Lebanon and Gaza, and signs that the personal rapport between the two leaders who face elections later this year is waning. Netanyahu has long presented his close ties with Trump as a political asset, while Trump confronts an electorate increasingly angry about the war. How each reconciles these competing pressures wi