Former President Donald Trump is actively reshaping relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while simultaneously navigating heightened tensions with Iran. Sadly, this dynamic was in evidence recently when Trump offered another warm embrace to Netanyahu. Even as worries increased about a possible wider war in the region, he lauded the Israeli prime minister’s military tactics.
Trump’s administration has recently taken decisive military actions, including strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. He framed these operations as isolated incidents that could be contained, despite his public and private assertions regarding the risks involved. As a candidate, Trump claimed he would avoid trappings into foreign wars. Not even 200 days into his first full term, his promises are beginning to waver.
In a post-election attempt to keep the political peace, it seems like Trump has tried to split the difference. He has undertaken these military strikes while claiming at the same time that he is able to reduce the risk of principle war. To their credit, his administration knows the toxic tightrope they have to walk. Officials, including Vice President JD Vance, have cautioned that limited strikes against Iran could spiral into a longer-term military engagement if Tehran retaliates.
“I want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu,” Trump remarked in a recent public address, as he sought to quell rumors of tensions between the two leaders. Intensified Israeli airstrikes in Iran counter-terror operations in Iraq and Syria have only just escalated. This leads to the question of whether Israel’s surprise aggressive campaign surprised the U.S.
Trump has denied these allegations outright, arguing that Trump and Netanyahu’s administration are working together, not at cross-purposes. “We worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before, and we’ve gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel,” he stated, emphasizing the strength of their partnership.
Former President Trump’s envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff is the improbable star of this story. According to reports, he insisted that he meet with Netanyahu on Shabbat in order to secure a ceasefire agreement with Hamas in Gaza. That meant that the political situation had turned dramatically against Trump. That change came shortly after U.S. B-2 bombers struck Iran for the first time since the start of Israel’s offensive last Saturday, the 7th.
Despite his administration’s endorsement of Israeli military actions, Trump’s rhetoric indicates a desire to maintain some degree of control over the unfolding events. He communicated to Tehran that the U.S. stands ready to retaliate even more vigorously if American forces are attacked directly.
The impacts of this war are profound. If passed, Trump’s recent actions would be a historic strike on Iran, many analysts note. This outrageous provocation would be the first domino that knocks over the next round of spiraling military escalations in the Middle East. U.S. troops deployed across the area have already been put on increased alert following warnings of possible Iranian revenge.
As opponents turn up the moral stakes, Trump morphs his campaign. From allies to adversaries, he walks a fine line with unique strategy to address challengers as they arise. His administration is definitely committed to continuing close relationships with Israel. Simultaneously, it pushes back hard against aggressive moves from Iran, serving as a reminder of the complicated world that constitutes Middle Eastern politics.