Watch: Trump and Netanyahu meet to discuss tariffs, Iran, and Gaza hostages 

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House on Monday, marking their second meeting in just two months since Trump’s January inauguration. The visit, held amid rising regional tensions and economic friction, follows Netanyahu’s recent trip to Hungary and comes as Israel grapples with a new 17% tariff on its goods imposed by Trump’s administration. Israel, in response, eliminated its remaining tariffs on U.S. imports last Tuesday, reinforcing a 40-year-old free trade agreement that now sees 98% of American goods enter tax-free. Netanyahu is expected to push for tariff relief, with Israeli officials optimistic about negotiating the rate down to 10%, especially after Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich scrapped lingering agricultural tariffs on U.S. products.

Beyond trade, the leaders are set to tackle pressing issues like Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the Gaza conflict, and hostage negotiations. Netanyahu, according to journalist Barak Ravid citing a senior Israeli official, plans to pitch a “good deal” with Iran modeled on Libya’s nuclear dismantling. Trump’s recent tariff policy, which he touted on Truth Social as bringing in “billions of dollars a week” from “abusing countries,” has stirred controversy, with the 17% rate on Israel calculated from a $7.4 billion trade deficit in 2024—a figure up 8.6% from 2023. Israeli exports to the U.S., valued at $22.2 billion last year, include diamonds and high-tech goods, which experts like Alex Coman from the Holon Institute fear could suffer. Trump, undeterred, urged patience on Truth Social, calling tariffs a path to “greatness” long overdue.

The White House canceled a planned joint press conference, opting instead for Oval Office statements to a smaller press pool, with no immediate explanation provided. Netanyahu’s agenda also includes meetings with Vice President JD Vance and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, while Hamas is slated to receive a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal tied to hostage releases. Discussions will likely touch on Syria’s instability, Turkey’s moves, and thwarting ICC warrants against Israeli leaders, reflecting the deep U.S.-Israel bond Netanyahu emphasized before departing Hungary.