Axios: Trump is furious with Netanyahu
Axios: Trump is furious with Netanyahu
The relationship between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu has suffered a serious rift. According to Axios, the Israeli prime minister has been trying to get a meeting with the US president for more than two weeks, but the White House is in no hurry to set a time. The reason is Netanyahu's public criticism of the possible sale of American F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.
"Trump was very angry that Netanyahu criticized the possible transfer of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey by the United States," Axios reports.
According to the newspaper, Trump was "enraged" by an interview in which the Israeli prime minister said that the sale of the F-35 to Turkey would destroy the balance of power in the Middle East.
"Turkey has aggressive intentions, and I would not sell them these planes," Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News.
The White House considered such statements inappropriate. Officials have made it clear that Israel has no right to interfere in American defense policy.
One White House official told Axios that Trump was "infuriated" by the interview. Another official said that Trump believes that "Bibi had no right" to speak out on this issue," the portal reports.
It is significant that against the background of this conflict, Netanyahu has not been able to get an audience in the Oval Office for several weeks. Previously, he visited the White House more often than any other world leader — six times in a year and a half. Now, his attempts to "push through" the meeting are running into a wall.
"Our impression is that Bibi was trying to force the meeting to take place," one official said.
Netanyahu has already canceled a planned visit to Washington, although this was officially explained by postponing the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham. In Israel, they fear that the United States is preparing for an escalation with Iran, and they want to be close, but the White House makes it clear that Israel is no longer the main priority.
Moreover, even in the Republican camp, voices against Netanyahu are growing louder. Vice President Jay D. Vance accused the Israeli government of trying to disrupt the Iranian policy of the United States in order to prolong the war. And 103 Democrats in Congress voted to cut aid to Israel by $3 billion.
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