Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that President Trump has invited him to the White House on Feb. 4, marking the first visit by a foreign leader during Trump’s second term.
The visit takes place as the U.S. urges Israel and Hamas to maintain a ceasefire that ended a destructive 15-month conflict in Gaza. Talks regarding the next phase of the ceasefire are scheduled for Feb. 3.
Trump hinted at the visit during remarks aboard Air Force One on Monday but shared few details. “I’m going to be speaking with Bibi Netanyahu in the not too distant future,” he told reporters.
Netanyahu is expected to urge Trump not to delay certain weapons shipments, as occurred under the Biden administration, despite continued military support and deliveries under that administration.
Netanyahu is also expected to seek Trump’s renewed focus on pressuring Iran and advancing a potential normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Such an agreement would mark a historic step, aligning Israel with the Arab world’s wealthiest and most influential nation, which shares its rivalry with Iran.
