Tensions between the Trump administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are boiling over like a pot left too long on the stove, with Israel’s recent military actions stirring frustration in Washington.
Despite a publicly cordial relationship, top U.S. officials are privately fuming over Netanyahu’s authorization of bombings in Syria and a tragic strike on a Catholic church in Gaza, actions seen as undermining President Trump’s mission to end foreign wars and stabilize the Middle East, the New York Post reported.
Let’s start with the timeline: just days after a warm White House reception where Netanyahu floated nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, Israel launched a bombing campaign in Syria, catching the administration off guard.
Israel notably targeted a Syrian envoy who was heading to Suwayda to quell violence between Bedouin tribesmen and the Druze minority—a group Israel claims to protect—while Syria insisted it was restoring order.
Israel accused Syria of aiding attacks on the Druze and breaching a demilitarized zone, but the bombing near the Syrian presidential palace—after initially agreeing to stand down at the urging of U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack—left Washington scratching its head.
“The bombing in Syria caught the president by surprise,” an unnamed official noted, adding that Trump isn’t thrilled to see explosions on TV in a nation he’s working to rebuild. Well, no kidding—peace doesn’t exactly bloom under a hail of bombs.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stepped in and demanded that Israel halt the attacks. A ceasefire was eventually secured—and thankfully, it still holds.
Meanwhile, Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa chose not to retaliate and withdrew troops from the south, a move that may have de-escalated tensions, at least for now.
But the situation grew more complicated when Israel shelled a church in Gaza, killing three and injuring ten. The incident prompted Trump to personally call Netanyahu for answers, and Israel later expressed regret.
Adding fuel to the fire, the killing of Palestinian American Saif Mussallet by Israeli settlers was condemned as “terrorism” by U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, a staunch Israel supporter who still showed up to back Netanyahu at his corruption trial.
Top allies like Turkey and Saudi Arabia have grumbled to the administration about Israel’s behavior, while officials like Tom Barrack and Steve Witkoff whispered to Trump that domestic politics might be driving Netanyahu’s trigger-happy decisions.
“Bibi acted like a madman,” a White House official vented. If “madman” means risking regional stability for political points at home, then that’s a debate worth having, without the name-calling.
Let’s not forget past friction: Trump has previously aired grievances over Netanyahu’s handling of the Hamas attack in October 2023 and his hesitance to fully support a U.S. operation against an Iranian general in 2020.
More recently, Israel’s preemptive strikes on Iran during Trump’s delicate negotiations with the regime raised eyebrows, with Rubio offering a lukewarm statement and Trump later hitting Iranian nuclear sites with bunker buster bombs. It’s a messy dance, and Netanyahu seems to keep stepping on toes.
“Netanyahu is sometimes like a child,” a U.S. official sighed. While the frustration is palpable, it’s clear the Trump administration is wrestling with a longtime ally who prioritizes his playbook over shared goals—hardly a recipe for Middle East harmony.
