President Donald Trump has voiced frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his handling of the Gaza conflict and related operations in the Middle East, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing multiple U.S. officials. The article describes Trump as unhappy with Netanyahu's preference for military action over diplomacy and a cease-fire, and quotes a meeting in which Trump was overheard saying, "He's f—ing me." The report portrays a White House grappling with Netanyahu's approach as Washington seeks to coordinate strategy with its Gulf partners.
The WSJ account centers on a September 9 strike that targeted Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar, and depicts Netanyahu's moves as complicating Trump’s Middle East diplomacy, including efforts to strengthen ties with Gulf states and to advance a broader attempt at expanding the Abraham Accords. U.S. officials described Netanyahu's approach as prolonging the Gaza war and creating friction with regional allies that could complicate Washington’s broader aims in the region. Shalom Lipner, who served seven consecutive Israeli prime ministers, told the Journal that Netanyahu's moves have prolonged the Gaza war and made Trump’s job in the region more difficult. Itamar Rabinovich, a former Israeli ambassador to the United States, told the Journal that Israelis are "mystified" by how little effect Trump’s criticism appears to have on Netanyahu.
Israeli officials claimed the White House was aware of the plan to strike Hamas in Doha beforehand. Reuters reported that the Trump administration denied these claims, saying U.S. officials did not learn of the attack until missiles were already in flight and could not oppose the operation. The report underscores a tension in U.S.-Israel planning that has emerged as Washington weighs how aggressively to pressure Hamas and how to manage its relationships with Arab partners.
Trump’s outreach to the region in May 2025 included a visit that strengthened his ties with Qatar and other Arab states, during which he praised Qatar’s ruling emir and family. The stay appeared to bolster the administration’s broader narrative about advancing regional diplomacy alongside military actions. Despite the public friction described in the WSJ article, sources familiar with the matter said the Trump-Netanyahu relationship remains "excellent" in many circles. Avner Golov, a former senior director at Israel’s National Security Council, told the Journal that Republican willingness to frame a success story against Hamas helps sustain Netanyahu’s standing with the White House. Damian Murphy, a former staff director for Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, suggested Netanyahu often operates on a calculus of "asking forgiveness, not permission" when pursuing militant actions, a view that colors the dynamic with Washington.
Netanyahu told reporters on Tuesday that Trump invited him to the White House at the end of September and noted several conversations since the Qatar attack described as "good". The Israeli prime minister emphasized ongoing communication as he sought to present a united front with the United States on regional issues. While public exchanges have exposed friction over pacing and methods, current reporting indicates both leaders remain engaged and intent on shaping outcomes in Gaza and beyond.
Analysts say the evolving relationship between Trump and Netanyahu highlights how U.S. politics and presidential posture can influence policy in a volatile region. With Trump seeking to reassert influence in Washington’s foreign-policy debates, his stance toward Netanyahu’s Gaza strategy—and the broader balance between diplomacy and force—could shape the United States’ ability to coordinate with traditional allies and to push for any potential pause, cease-fire, or negotiated settlement in the Gaza conflict.