US President Donald Trump on Tuesday heaped praise on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, declaring that Israel “might not exist” without his leadership, as the two leaders met at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago
residence in Florida amid continuing war in Gaza and heightened regional tensions.
Speaking to reporters at the outset of their meeting, Trump described Netanyahu as a leader who had done a “phenomenal job” navigating Israel through prolonged conflict, particularly in its fight against Hamas.
Trump repeatedly underscored his confidence in Netanyahu’s leadership during wartime, portraying him as central to Israel’s survival and security.
“Israel might not exist without a leader like Netanyahu,” Trump said, adding that the Israeli prime minister had shown resilience and determination while leading the country through one of the most challenging periods in its history.
Trump also issued a strong warning to Iran during his remarks, saying the United States would not tolerate any renewed effort by Tehran to advance its nuclear ambitions.
“If Iran tries to build its nuclear arsenal again, we’ll knock the hell out of them,” Trump said, signalling a hardline stance on Iran’s nuclear programme.
The meeting took place as part of what CNN described as an end-of-year foreign policy push by Trump, with Netanyahu becoming the second foreign leader in as many days to visit Mar-a-Lago.
The two leaders held a private lunch and discussed a range of Middle East issues, including the next phase of the Gaza peace plan, developments in the occupied West Bank and broader regional security concerns.
Trump told reporters ahead of the talks that he planned to discuss “five major subjects” with Netanyahu, later suggesting that progress had been made on three of them within the first few minutes of the meeting.
However, more than an hour later, the leaders emerged without announcing any concrete new milestones or agreements.
Instead, the meeting was marked by warm rhetoric and mutual admiration, with both leaders emphasising their personal rapport and longstanding political alignment.
Despite the lack of specific policy announcements, Trump said discussions were ongoing and expressed confidence that conclusions would eventually be reached, including on sensitive issues such as the West Bank.
WHAT NETANYAHU SAID AFTER TALKS
Netanyahu, for his part, praised Trump effusively after the meeting, saying Israel has never had a stronger ally in the White House.
In a post on X following the talks, Netanyahu said Trump’s leadership and support for Israel were unmatched.
“Israel has never had a friend in the White House like President Trump. His leadership, clarity, and unwavering support for Israel are exceptional,” Netanyahu wrote.
He added that Trump had consistently stood by Israel during moments of crisis, saying, “True friendship is proven in moments of challenge, and President Trump has stood with Israel every step of the way.”
Israel has never had a friend in the White House like President Trump. His leadership, clarity, and unwavering support for Israel are exceptional.
True friendship is proven in moments of challenge, and President Trump has stood with Israel every step of the way. 🇺🇸🇮🇱… pic.twitter.com/KwLGtatNsC
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) December 29, 2025
During his remarks alongside Trump, Netanyahu described the meeting as “very, very productive” and credited the US President with achieving “remarkable things” in the Middle East through close cooperation with Israel.
While acknowledging that the two leaders do not agree on every issue, Netanyahu said they had a history of working through differences.
“Sometimes we have different ideas, but we work it out, and most of the time, we see eye to eye,” he said.
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