Posted on 04/07/25
| News Source: Arutz-7
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is meeting with US President Donald Trump this evening (Monday). The American president received Netanyahu warmly upon his arrival at the White House.
The two are expected to discuss the hostage deal, Iran, and the tariffs imposed last week on Israeli imports. Netanyahu arrived in the US directly from his state visit to Hungary - during which he spoke with the US president.
Before the meeting, the two leaders spoke to the press in the Oval Office. "I want to thank you for inviting me again to the White House. You've been a remarkable friend to the State of Israel. You stand by us, you are a great champion of our alliance. You actually do things that you say you would, and people respect that enormously," Netanyahu told Trump.
Regarding the meeting, Netanyahu summed up: "We had the opportunity to talk about many subjects. First if I can mention tariffs. I said to the President a very simple thing: We will eliminate the trade deficit with the US. We intend to do it very quickly, we think it's the right thing to do and we're going to also eliminate trade barriers. I think Israel can serve as a model for countries that ought to do the same." Netanyahu noted that he recognizes the US's position on imposing tariffs on countries that have tariffs on US imports.
Netanyahu also noted that he and the President discussed the hostages as well as the elimination of Hamas in Gaza and enabling the people of Gaza to leave.
He added that they discussed the situation in Syria as well as the deteriorating relations with Turkey. "We don't want to see Syria being used by anyone, including Turkey, as a base for attacking Israel."
Regarding Iran, Netanyahu stated: "We are both united in the goal that Iran does not ever get nuclear weapons. If it can be done diplomatically, the full way, as it was done in Libya, I think that would be a good thing."
On Netanyahu's last point, President Trump revealed, "We are having direct talks with Iran. On Saturday we will have a very big meeting and we will see what can happen. i think everybody agrees that a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious, and the obvious is not something that I want to be involved with, or frankly that anyone here wants to be involved with." He noted that the situation is "getting to be very dangerous territory. Hopefully, those talks will be successful, and I think it would be in Iran's best interests if they are."
Regarding Netanyahu's announcement on the trade deficit, Trump thanked the Prime Minister and explained: "We've been ripped off and taken advantage of by many countries over the years, and we just can't do it anymore."
Asked about the end of the war and hostage deal, the President answered: "I want to see the end of the war. Right now, we have a problem with the hostages, we're trying to get the hostages out. We got quite a few out, but it's a long process. It shouldn't be that long, but we have a big problem."
Trump mentioned the US offensive against the Houthis in Yemen: "We've really hit them hard, and they don't know what to do. We've gotten many of their leaders, their experts on missiles."
He then asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to comment: "It's been a bad couple of weeks for the Houthis, and it's about to get worse. It's been a devastating campaign. Whether it's been underground facilities, weapons manufacturing, bunkers, troops in the open, air defense assets - we are not going to relent."
Hegseth added: "We are going to be very clear about the Iranians as well - they should not continue to provide support to the Houthis, and that message has been made clear."
Before Netanyahu arrived at the White House, Trump spoke with Egyptian President el-Sisi, French President Macron, and Jordanian King Abdullah. The four discussed ways to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages.
Earlier, Netanyahu met with Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. Upon his arrival in Washington and the start of his visit to the United States, the Prime Minister met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.