Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the planning. The time and location have not been disclosed by the White House.
What is confirmed:
- 11:45 AM ET Tuesday – Netanyahu will meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson at the Capitol.
- He will also hold meetings with other members of Congress throughout the day, though those sessions have not yet been made public.
On Wednesday, Netanyahu is set to meet with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon.
Later that evening, a private reception will bring together Netanyahu and his inner circle, alongside Trump administration members, as well as Jewish and Evangelical leaders, underscoring the political contours of his U.S. visit.
Netanyahu is currently expected to depart Washington on Thursday.
Earlier today, Netanyahu was at the White House meeting Trump where the two leaders discussed the future of Israel, the prospects for peace in the Middle East, and ongoing tensions with Iran.
On the question of a two-state solution and the possibility of an independent Palestinian state, Netanyahu did not mince his words.
“I think the Palestinians should have all the powers to govern themselves, but none of the powers to threaten us. That means a sovereign power, like overall security, will always remain in our hands,” he said. “Now, that is a fact, and no one in Israel will agree to anything else, because we don’t commit suicide. We want life, we cherish life, for ourselves, for our neighbors, and I think we can work out a peace between us and the entire Middle East with President Trump’s leadership and by working together. I think we can establish a very, very broad peace that will include all our neighbors.”
Asked whether he was concerned about potential legal action by New York City Councilman Zohran Mamdani, who has publicly called for his arrest, Netanyahu responded:
“I’m not concerned about that.”
Trump interjected, drawing laughter from the room:
“I’ll get him out.”
Netanyahu dismissed the matter, calling it “silly in many ways and not serious,” before reiterating his views on Palestinian statehood. Referencing the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, he said:
“The Palestinians had a state—a Hamas state in Gaza—and look what they did with it.
“So people aren’t likely to say, let’s just give them another state and the platform to destroy Israel. We’ll work out a peace with our Palestinian neighbors—those who don’t want to destroy us. We’ll work out a peace in which our security—the sovereign power security—always remains in our hands. While people will say it’s not a complete state, it’s not a state, it’s not that. We don’t care. You know. We vowed never again. Never again is now. It’s not going to happen again.”
Returning to Mamdani, Trump quipped:
“He’s not a socialist, he’s a communist,” adding that the councilman is “going through a little bit of a honeymoon right now.”
“It’s a philosophy that this country is not ready for and it never will be.”
On Iran, Netanyahu was asked if the conflict was over.
“I’d like to believe that Iran would not test our fortitude because it would be a mistake,” he said.
Asked whether he supported regime change in Iran, Netanyahu replied:
“I think it’s up to the people of Iran.”
Toward the end of the spray, Trump weighed in on sanctions relief for Iran and Syria.
He added that lifting sanctions on Syria would give Damascus a “great shot at making it.”
“I’d love to be able to at the right time take those sanctions off,” Trump said, “and give Iran the chance to rebuild.”
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