Trump Netanyahu Mar-a-Lago Meeting 2025: No Green Light for Strike

The handshake was warm, but the diplomatic reality was ice-cold. On December 29, 2025, US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. Despite the public display of camaraderie, the meeting signaled a tightening of American constraints on Israeli military ambitions.

Trump Netanyahu Mar-a-Lago Meeting 2025: Conflicting Agendas

Netanyahu arrived seeking two major concessions: the exclusion of Turkiye from any Gaza stabilization force and a US 'green light' for a solo strike on Iran. According to reports from analysts, Trump didn't bite on either. Instead, he touted his strong relationship with Turkish President Erdogan and emphasized Iran's alleged willingness to "make a deal."

While Israeli media outlets suggested a private approval for military action was granted, Trump's official statements told a different story. He focused on the reconstruction of Gaza beginning "soon" and noted that the disarmament of Hamas would be handled by a coalition of nearly 60 states or a Palestinian-led force, aligning more with international logic than Netanyahu's domestic hardline stance.

The Israel Prize and a Denied Pardon

In a move seen as an attempt to placate the US President, Israeli officials announced that Trump would be awarded the Israel Prize in 2026. This prize, typically reserved for lifelong academic or civic achievement, represents a symbolic effort by Netanyahu to secure Trump's loyalty. Meanwhile, a claim by Trump regarding a potential pardon for Netanyahu from President Isaac Herzog was swiftly and categorically denied by the Israeli presidency.