Recent newsfeeds paint a picture of a strained relationship between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Below are just some of the headlines.

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 Trump Has Tired of Netanyahu

Once in Sync, Trump and Netanyahu Now Show Signs of Division

Trump Strains Relationship with Netanyahu as Middle East Policy Increasingly Isolates Israel

What Cracks in Trump-Netanyahu Ties Could Mean for U.S. Support of Israel

At the same time, other headlines are saying the opposite.

He Still Loves You: U.S. Envoy Insists Trump-Israel Relationship is as Strong as Ever

‘Reckless, Irresponsible,’ says Huckabee of Reports of Trump-Netanyahu Rift

Is Trump Breaking with Israel? Or is the Far-Left Media Trying to Provoke Such a Break?

Netanyahu Insists Ties with Trump are ‘Excellent’ Amid Reports of Growing Rift

Looking at the diversity of headlines from various media sources, one must wonder, what is the actual truth? Before determining this, it’s important to look at the entire picture and then pray for discernment and wisdom.

While a large number of liberal news media are focused on President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu being “at odds” with each other, there are also some conservative outlets echoing similar ideas.

Hostages, Nuclear Deals, and Secret Negotiations

The left-leaning NBC reports, “Where Netanyahu sees an opportunity to finally take out Iran’s nuclear facilities, Trump sees an opportunity to remove the threat of Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon by making a deal. As Israel hits Gaza with a new military offensive, Trump is pushing for a ceasefire and looking to implement his postwar plan for rebuilding the area into a ‘Riviera of the Middle East.’ And after Trump halted the U.S. military campaign against the Iranian-backed Houthi militant group, a shocked Netanyahu said Israel would then defend itself.”

World Israel News (a conservative media source) points to the release of American hostage Edan Alexander, who was held for 19 months by Hamas, as an issue of possible contention between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu. “Israel learned about discussions for Alexander’s release through intercepted communications and intelligence, not from the White House directly…a U.S. official reported that Qatar ‘delivered the goods’ by persuading Hamas to close the deal.”

Tania Curado-Koenig, of Koenig World Watch Daily (a biblically-based news website focusing on the U.S., Israel and the Middle East), warns that while President Trump has stated that the hostage release was “a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators–Qatar and Egypt–to put an end to this very brutal war,” the problem is that “it was about executing the will of Qatar, Hamas, and Egypt to stop Israel’s war before it could finish.” In effect, this undermines Israel.

Israeli author and Bible prophecy commentator Amir Tsarfati posts weekly Middle East updates where he breaks down the political and spiritual aspects of what’s happening in the region. On May 14, 2025, he appeared in an interview where he stated that while President Trump has been a great friend to Israel, some of his recent moves have raised eyebrows. Points of contention include the secrecy behind the Houthi deal, where Israel was excluded, the rumors of support for a future Saudi nuclear plant, and the $400 million “flying palace” gifted to President Trump by Qatar–a country that has propped up terrorism and is aligned with the Iranian regime. Additionally, President Trump has lifted sanctions on Syria whilst negotiating with its terrorist-sponsoring president, who is responsible for mass atrocities. In effect, there are concerns about deals being cut with jihadist countries. Nonetheless, Tsarfati still believes that the United States is Israel’s greatest ally.

All of these developments in the Middle East have fueled the idea that President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu may not be on the best of terms.

Many Sources Say No Hostility Between Trump and Netanyahu

The Times of Israel refutes the idea that Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump are experiencing “widening gaps” and tension. Recently, Netanyahu posted a video update on his X account where he assured listeners that his relationship with President Trump is “excellent.”

News media posted reports about the supposed rift between the two leaders just before President Trump left on his trip to the Middle East, where he would stop in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, but would “skip Israel.” Regarding the alleged tension, however, Netanyahu stated, “What can I say — it’s not Trump saying it and it’s not me saying it.”

The Jerusalem Post’s headline, Gulf Diplomatic Sources Debate if Trump will Announce U.S. Recognition of Palestinian State, stoked the fire by implying that President Trump could make this monumental declaration at the Gulf-US Summit that is hosted by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh. The source of this information declined to be named or disclose his/her position. Other articles surfaced, claiming that Trump would “advance steps in the Middle East” without Netanyahu, but again, those sources declined to be named.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, denies that there’s a rift between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu. In response to concerns, Huckabee stated, “He spent more time with the prime minister of Israel than he has any other world leader, so I would just say to people, ‘Relax, calm down, Donald Trump loves you, there’s no doubt about that, he’s got your back…He is the same Donald Trump that, four years as president, did more for Israel than any other American president.’”

An Israeli activist named Hillel Fuld wrote on X, “If Trump signed a nuclear deal with the Saudis without demanding normalization with Israel, if he agreed to a ceasefire with the Houthis without demanding they stop attacking Israel, and if he is indeed trying to cut ties with Israel, I will be the first to admit that I was duped.” Fuld added, “For now, I call fake news and I hope I’m right. If I’m not, and these rumors, even one of them is true, wow, this would be a historic back stabbing of Israel, maybe the worst by any president in history.”

Huckabee replied to the activist’s comment by saying, “Because I follow [Fuld] I will jump in and ease some minds. All the nonsense about @POTUS & @IsraeliPM is from ‘sources’ who don’t put their name on it. I will put mine. The partnership is STRONG. What’s broken is the credibility of fake news.” In another X post, Huckabee stated that the reports of President Trump recognizing a Palestinian state were “nonsense,” and that “Israel doesn’t have a better friend than POTUS!”

Some Evangelical Leaders are Worried

Amidst all the back and forth, some evangelical leaders are very concerned. All Israel News Editor-in-Chief and avid supporter of Israel, Joel Rosenberg, asked the question, “Why is the most pro-Israel president in the history of the United States planning a trip to the Middle East…but not including a stop in Israel?” Rosenberg admits he “has no concrete proof of strained relations,” but he, along with many Israelis and Christians, has become uneasy over recent moves by the Trump Administration in the Middle East.

All Israel News cites, “One of the primary concerns is Trump’s aggressive push for ongoing negotiations with Iran–reportedly taking place weekly–instead of pursuing military action to counter Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.” Rosenberg wonders, “I don’t know if Trump is just giving the Iranians an opportunity to reject true diplomacy, so that he can have an international reason to bomb the living daylights out of the Iranian nuclear facilities. Evangelicals and other conservatives are growing anxious that Trump maybe could get played by Iran (referring to Trump’s envoy for regional negotiations, Steve Witkoff).”

President Trump stressed that despite not making a stop in Israel, his trip to the Middle East is “good for Israel,” and he’s committed to preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. “They cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he stressed. In a meeting with Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, President Trump expressed optimism about nuclear talks with Iran. “I have a feeling it’s going to work out.”

While President Trump maintains that what he’s doing is good for Israel, there is speculation that Netanyahu has been caught off guard by the resumption of talks with Iran and is against any kind of agreement.

So, What’s the Truth?

Is there a rift between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu currently, or will there be one in the future? Will President Trump allow leaders in the Middle East to sway him from doing what’s best for Israel?

Events in the Middle East are ever-changing and intensifying. What happens in the days, weeks, and months ahead is not clearly predictable, as the region and its leaders are volatile. There is one constant, however, whom we can count on, and we can predict that He will take action in all circumstances. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). As believers, we can petition the King of the Universe and ask Him to intervene in world affairs and to shape the hearts of leaders and the “deals” they make.

Amir Tsarfati, founder of Behold Israel, reminds us that “Whatever is done by the president of the United States or any other country cannot impact the future plan God has for my nation (Israel). The people of Israel are God’s chosen people, and our land is that which was given to us thousands of years ago in the time of the patriarchs. Millennia have passed and empires have come and gone, but Israel remains. Because that is what God promised, and His Word is irrevocable.”

No matter what happens between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, and no matter what transpires in the region, we must look at issues through a biblical lens, rather than a political one. And of course, we must pray.

1. Pray that President Trump would not be drawn into deals that would harm Israel and prop up terrorism in the region. While Trump is a businessman, it’s important that this does not cloud his judgment when it comes to Israel’s safety and its biblical land. Pray that Prime Minister Netanyahu would make wise, sound, well-deliberated decisions for Israel and that he is not influenced by the wrong sources.
2. Pray that any negotiations and plans for a Palestinian state would be shut down. Any attempt to divide Israel’s land, or to give it away, will lead to judgment. Pray that the land remains in Israel’s possession.
3. Pray that both Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump would make decisions based on the will of God. Pray that they would fulfill their calling as leaders and finish the work that God has ordained for them to do. Pray that the voice of the enemy would be silenced.
4. Pray for divine protection over President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu, the United States, and Israel as tensions in the Middle East intensify.
5. Pray that “America First” never comes at the expense of the Jewish people and their biblical land.

It’s interesting to note that these important developments with Israel and the Middle East occurred near and during Israel’s 77^th anniversary of becoming a nation. On May 14, 1948, a miracle happened.

Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment?

The words of Isaiah 66:8 remind us that God is in charge of what happens to Israel. As intercessors, let us pray in unison with the Lord, knowing that one day all things will be peaceful and restored in the Middle East and the entire world. Make no mistake, the Prince of Peace is working amidst all the chaos and uncertainty.

How are you praying for President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu? How are you praying about the latest developments in the Middle East?

Angela Rodriguez is an author, blogger, and former teacher who studies the signs of the times, as well as the historical and biblical connections between Israel and the United States. You can visit her blogs at 67owls.comand 100trumpets.com. She is also the author of Psalm 91: Under the Wings of Jesus and Hallelujah’s Great Ride. Photo Credit: Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian.