Media: Trump’s patience wears thin with Israeli PM over Middle East vision

As President Donald Trump arrives in the Gulf to grand displays of wealth and promises of investment, one key ally appears increasingly out of step with his agenda: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The US is pursuing its own objectives and cutting Israel out of dealmaking with Iran and Saudi Arabia, says an article by Financial Times, Caliber.Az reports.

Trump’s Middle East tour has been heavy on spectacle — with talk of trillion-dollar deals, investment opportunities for US companies, and even reports of a Qatari gift of a luxury jumbo jet to be used as Air Force One. Yet beneath the gold-plated optics, tensions between the US and Israel are rising.

Trump, who has long prioritized personal wins and economic gains under his “Trump First” foreign policy, appears to be running out of patience with Netanyahu. The first public sign of strain came during their joint press conference in April, when Trump pointedly declined to reverse the 17 per cent tariffs he had imposed on Israeli goods.

“Israel gets $4 billion a year in aid,” Trump said. “That’s a lot. Congratulations, by the way. That’s pretty good.”

The comment, while cloaked in sarcasm, underscored a deeper frustration. The US also faces a growing trade deficit with Israel — a detail Trump is unlikely to overlook. In his view, allies should offer clear returns, and Netanyahu’s hardline stance on Gaza and opposition to any future Palestinian state now appear to clash with Trump’s broader ambitions in the region.

Trump is seeking rapid foreign policy wins to bolster his image — some of which are materializing from unlikely actors. The Houthis have agreed to halt attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. Hamas has released one American-Israeli hostage, Edan Alexander, reportedly “as a gesture to Trump,” with no concessions in return. And Gulf nations, once seen as mere ATM machines by Washington, are actively supporting regional diplomacy — hosting Ukraine talks, maintaining détente with Iran, and backing new governments in Lebanon and Syria.

In contrast, Netanyahu’s approach to Gaza, including plans for a renewed military campaign, is viewed by Trump as counterproductive. The president has floated the idea of a “Gaza Riviera,” a grand — though widely criticized — vision for reconstruction that stands at odds with Netanyahu’s military strategy.

Trump’s dissatisfaction also surfaced over Netanyahu’s resistance to the Saudi-Israeli normalization deal, which collapsed over the Israeli leader’s refusal to commit to the idea of a future Palestinian state. Netanyahu reportedly went so far as to suggest the Saudis create a Palestinian state within their own borders — a proposal that enraged Riyadh.

While official statements downplay any rift, the message from Trump is unmistakable: “Get with the programme.” His focus is on diplomacy, economic deliverables, and optics — not open-ended wars or political brinkmanship. With a civilian nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia potentially on the table, Israel risks being left behind if it continues to resist the evolving US strategy in the region.

Trump may not be driven by humanitarian concerns — “The president is no humanitarian and doesn’t lose sleep over the devastation in Gaza,” one observer noted — but he has no tolerance for actions that threaten his “beautiful deals.”

Whether these scattered efforts will form a coherent Middle East vision remains to be seen. But Trump’s frustration with Netanyahu is no longer under wraps — and the cost of defiance may be diplomatic isolation.

By Vafa Guliyeva