Netanyahu’s US visit shortened after Musk meeting canceled

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned U.S. visit has been sharply shortened after a planned meeting with business mogul Elon Musk in Texas was canceled, leaving Netanyahu with little more than a 24-hour trip to New York to address the United Nations General Assembly.

Netanyahu had hoped to add the Texas meeting, along with a possible meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, to his plans to speak at the UN General Assembly next week. However, the White House determined that Trump did not have time to meet with Netanyahu during the trip, according to the report, leaving Netanyahu scheduled to arrive in New York on Thursday morning, speak at the General Assembly at 2 p.m. local time and then immediately return to Israel.

Several factors have contributed to the unusually short trip, including the proximity of elections in both Israel and the United States, the ongoing war with Iran and Trump’s desire to devote attention to other issues, including the possibility of a ceasefire in Ukraine. Trump has also said he is approaching a major decision point regarding the Iran war ahead of meetings with Gulf leaders during the UN gathering.

The shortened visit also comes as Netanyahu faces heightened political controversy in New York, where large protests are expected during the General Assembly. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has previously said Netanyahu is “not welcome” in the city and called on the federal government to enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him, although Mamdani has since said he does not plan to attend protests against Netanyahu himself.

Some Israeli political pundits have suggested that Netanyahu’s limited time in the United States could also carry domestic political implications, particularly given what they describe as declining support for Israel and Netanyahu among some American voters. They have noted that even some of Israel’s supporters in Congress may not have wanted to be seen publicly meeting with him ahead of closely contested U.S. elections.

The original trip could also have provided Netanyahu with an opportunity to meet American officials, Jewish community leaders and business leaders ahead of Israel’s Knesset elections. Israeli voters have traditionally given Netanyahu significant credit for his relationships with American policymakers and the American Jewish community.

A Likud Party activist who has worked on every election campaign for the past 30 years told ALL ISRAEL NEWS on condition of anonymity that he has more apprehension going into the coming election, which will be held on Oct. 27, than he has ever had before.

“There is a lot of despair in the rank and file,” he admitted.

He said Netanyahu’s unusually short U.S. visit could reinforce those concerns, especially given the contrast with his previous trips to the United States.

“For Bibi [Netanyahu] to be almost sneaking into the UN General Assembly and then scurrying out again to fly home as soon as possible right afterward is a VERY bad look!” he said.

The activist recalled how Netanyahu has traditionally used his UN trips to spend several days in the United States, meeting American officials and Jewish community leaders.

“Usually he makes a big deal out of these trips to the UNGA and spends several days in the U.S., flying down to Washington to meet all the big shots, speaking at the big synagogues in New York, maybe even flying out to LA to mingle with all the Jewish movie stars in Hollywood and all that,” he said.

He said the longer visit could have been politically valuable ahead of the Israeli election.

“It could have been a major campaign event for us, but now it feels like the exact opposite,” he said.

The activist said the shortened trip could instead create a very different impression among Israeli voters.

“It’s going to end up making it look like Bibi doesn’t have it anymore like he used to, that he’s washed up and it’s time for him to go,” he said.

“I hate to say it but I’m starting to feel that way myself, actually, and I’m sure I’m not the only one,” he added.