Netanyahu's Sixth Visit: When Even Trump's Closest Ally Must Keep Asking

No world leader has made more trips to Washington in the past year than Benjamin Netanyahu. This week, Israel's prime minister will break his own record with a sixth visit to see Donald Trump since the US president's return to office.

The frequency tells a story that goes beyond diplomatic courtesy. It reveals something more complex about power, influence, and the limits of even the closest alliances.

The Perfect Partnership That Wasn't

When Netanyahu became Trump's first foreign visitor in February 2025, it seemed like a match made in geopolitical heaven. "You are the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House," Netanyahu declared, as cameras captured what appeared to be perfect alignment.

But that very meeting contained the seeds of future complications. Trump's proposal to ethnically cleanse Gaza and transform it into the "Riviera of the Middle East" sparked international condemnation so fierce that the January ceasefire collapsed within weeks. The plan that was supposed to showcase their partnership instead became a diplomatic liability.

When $4 Billion Isn't Enough

By April, the cracks were showing. Netanyahu arrived seeking tariff exemptions for Israeli goods, hoping personal chemistry could override economic policy. Trump's response was blunt: "Don't forget, we help Israel a lot. We give Israel $4 billion a year. That's a lot."

More significantly, while Netanyahu pushed for military escalation against Iran, Trump announced nuclear talks with Tehran instead. The Israeli leader's maximalist demands—complete disarmament "the way it was done in Libya"—met Trump's preference for deals over bombs. For perhaps the first time, Netanyahu discovered that even he had limits with Trump.

The Victory That Required Constant Validation

When the US and Israel jointly bombed Iran's nuclear sites in June, Netanyahu rushed back to Washington in July to claim victory. "The partnership between President Trump and me produced a historic victory," he proclaimed, as if the military success needed immediate political reinforcement.

Yet even in triumph, tensions simmered. While media speculated that Trump might pressure Netanyahu to end the Gaza war, the Israeli leader insisted they were in "lockstep." The need to publicly assert unity suggested otherwise.

The Ceasefire That Keeps Killing

September brought Netanyahu's fourth visit and Trump's 20-point Gaza plan. "This is a big, big day, potentially one of the great days ever in civilization," Trump announced with characteristic hyperbole.

Netanyahu accepted the proposal—with caveats. "Israel will retain security responsibility for the foreseeable future," he stipulated, effectively gutting any meaningful Palestinian autonomy. Four months later, Israel continues bombing Gaza while restricting medical supplies and shelter materials, making a mockery of the word "ceasefire."

The Iran Card, Again

December's meeting at Mar-a-Lago featured mutual praise and the announcement that Netanyahu would receive Israel's highest civilian honor. But beneath the ceremony, the same fundamental disagreement persisted: Netanyahu wanting military action against Iran, Trump preferring diplomatic engagement.

"Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again, and if they are, we're going to have to knock them down," Trump threatened before their meeting. Yet US-Iranian indirect talks continue, leaving Netanyahu to push the same agenda he's been pushing all year.

The Arithmetic of Influence

Six visits in twelve months represents more than diplomatic diligence—it suggests a leader who must constantly work to maintain influence even with his closest ally. Each trip reveals the gap between public declarations of unity and private negotiations over real policy.

Netanyahu's frequent pilgrimages to Washington expose a paradox of modern geopolitics: the stronger a relationship appears publicly, the more effort it may require privately. Even $4 billion in annual aid and decades of alliance don't guarantee automatic agreement on every issue.