WATCH VIDEO: Trump bear-hugs Bibi at Mar-a-Lago, warns Iran & Hamas of “hell to pay” if they don’t de-escalate — but Trump’s bizarre embrace of Turkey’s Erdogan creates a ‘super-stressor’ moment for Israel
Trump signals openness to Turkish troops in Gaza and selling F-35s to Erdogan — why?
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL — The media has been filled with reports in recent days that President Donald J. Trump and his inner circle are increasingly irritated by, frustrated with, or even angry with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu.
The truth is decidedly different.
True, Netanyahu is a strong cup of tea, and even many of his closest political allies and colleagues have grown deeply frustrated with him over the years.
I have no doubt Trump and his team get irritated, too.
But this is hardly a crisis in U.S.–Israeli relations.
TRUMP BEAR-HUGS BIBI
Trump didn’t just welcome Bibi on Monday for their holiday summit at Mar-a-Lago, the president’s “Southern White House” in Palm Beach, Florida.
Trump gave Bibi the political equivalent of a bear hug.
Consider:
It was Trump’s sixth meeting with Bibi this year — no other world leader has met with the Commander-in-Chief as often, including at Trump’s gorgeous and beloved oceanside compound.
Trump repeatedly called Bibi a “great wartime leader” — one who should be both pardoned and reelected in 2026, he insisted.
Trump went further, saying that in light of the massive and lethal attacks coming from seven directions over the past two years, Israel wouldn’t even exist today if a weak and foolish leader had been running the Jewish state instead of Netanyahu. Hyperbole? Sure. But Trump was signaling how much he values Bibi as a strong leader, even if they clash from time to time.
The president also enthusiastically praised Bibi for what they have accomplished together this year — as Trump put it, they have obliterated Iran’s nuclear threat, seriously damaged Iran’s ballistic missile program, secured the return of 254 hostages (with only one remaining, Ran Gvili, whose family traveled with Netanyahu and met privately with Trump), and devastated Hezbollah and Hamas, thereby laying the groundwork for expanding the Abraham Accords.
BIBI STAYING IN PALM BEACH ALL WEEK
Trump didn’t simply invite Bibi for a quick visit to Palm Beach.
Bibi and his wife, Sara, are spending the entire week there — not only meeting with Trump, but also with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and other key members of Trump’s national security team.
Trump even invited Bibi and Sara to spend New Year’s Eve at Mar-a-Lago with him and Melania.
Do they have a lot to discuss and decide?
Absolutely — but these are not things Trump does for world leaders he can barely tolerate.
Has Trump met six times this year with French President Emmanuel Macron?
Don’t be ridiculous.
TRUMP TALKS TOUGH ON IRAN AND HAMAS
Also encouraging for Netanyahu and his delegation: Trump issued a strong warning to Iran to de-escalate — and to Hamas to disarm — or face “hell to pay.”
“Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again,” Trump said at a press conference. “If they are, we’re going to have to knock them down. We’ll knock the hell out of them.”
Trump signaled he would give Israel the green light for an even more massive strike against Iran’s ballistic missile forces and facilities if necessary.
He then added, “Hopefully that’s not happening,” inviting Iran to sit down and negotiate a serious, verifiable, and enforceable diplomatic agreement.
All of this was music to Bibi’s ears, as I explain in this video.
WHY IS TRUMP ALSO BEAR-HUGGING THE TYRANT OF TURKEY?
But as I also explain, there is at least one issue giving Bibi and his top advisers real heartburn.
Why is Trump offering such a glowing and enthusiastic embrace — and global endorsement — of the tyrant of Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan?
Why does Trump seem open to Turkey sending troops into Gaza?
Why is Trump bear-hugging Erdoğan, a man who wants to become the Sultan of Sunni Islam and revive the Ottoman Empire — in effect, a modern caliphate?
At one point, a reporter asked:
“There is a growing fear of a confrontation between Israel and Turkey. How are you going to ease this tension, given the fact that President Erdogan calls Mr. Netanyahu ‘Hitler’ and compares Israel to the Nazis?”
Trump’s answer was not reassuring to the Israeli prime minister.
“Well, I know President Erdogan very well,” Trump replied. “He’s a very good friend of mine, and I respect him. And Bibi respects him. They’re not going to have a problem. I know him very well. You’ve seen me do things with President Erdogan and Turkey that nobody else could have done. We’re not going to have a problem. He’s done a fantastic job. I’m with him all the way. I’m with Bibi all the way. Nothing’s going to happen.”
Later, Trump went even further:
“Don’t forget, it was President Erdogan who helped get rid of a very bad ruler of Syria. He never wanted credit for it, but he deserves a lot of credit. Bibi agrees. I agree. President Erdogan did it, and I give him a lot of credit. I think it’s going to work out well between Syria and Israel.”
WILL TRUMP INVITE TURKISH TROOPS INTO GAZA?
Reporters then asked whether Trump would consider selling advanced F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.
Netanyahu is adamantly opposed.
But Trump appeared open to the idea.
“We’re thinking about it very seriously,” Trump said, adding, “I promise they’ll never use them on Israel.”
Then came the bigger question: Would Trump allow Turkish troops to enter Gaza as part of an international stabilization force?
Again, Bibi is firmly opposed.
So am I.
But Trump responded, “We’ll be talking about it, and if it’s good, I think that’s good.”
WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON BETWEEN TRUMP AND TURKEY?
So why does Trump appear to be bear-hugging Erdogan as well as Bibi?
What’s really going on here?
In this video, I explain my theory.
