Trump Hosts Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago for Bilateral Discussions

President Donald Trump welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his home at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on Dec. 29 to discuss Gaza, Iran, Syria, and other matters.

“We had a big meeting with a lot of people, a lot of talent from Israel and from the U.S.,” Trump said after the meeting. “And I think we came to a lot of conclusions. There’s very little difference in what we’re looking at, and where we want to be, where we want to go.”

Netanyahu expressed gratitude for a “very productive meeting.”

“I think we have a partnership … second to none,” he said. “It’s allowed us to do tremendous things.”

Ahead of the meeting, Trump said the second phase of the peace plan in Gaza could begin “as quickly as we can.”

“But there has to be a disarming of Hamas,” he noted.

Rebuilding the war-torn region is a priority, and sanitization efforts are underway, he said.

“It’s been a mess for a long time, but we’re going to straighten it out,” Trump said. “We’re helping the people of Gaza a lot, and so is Israel.”

Regarding Syria, he requested that Israel “get along” and give the nation time to rebuild under its new president.

“We want Syria to survive,” Trump said.

Netanyahu said Israel is committed to securing its shared border.

The two leaders met for approximately three hours for a working lunch.

Trump said Netanyahu deserves a pre-conviction pardon for corruption charges he is facing, saying he heard it’s “on the way.”

“He’s a wartime prime minister. He’s done a phenomenal job,” Trump said. “He’s taken Israel through a very dangerous period of trauma.”

He suggested the fate of Israel would be far worse if Netanyahu had not been in charge during recent crises—including the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks.

“If you had the wrong prime minister right now, Israel would not exist,” Trump said. “They were met with a force the likes of which very few countries could have handled.”

Joint operations led by the two nations have helped create stability across the world, according to the president.

“We just won a big war together,” Trump said. “If we didn’t beat Iran, you wouldn’t have had peace in the Middle East.”

Reports that Iran is attempting to rebuild its military capabilities following strikes from the United States and Israel this year were met with words of warning.

“If they are, we’re going to have to knock them down,” Trump said, “but hopefully that’s not happening.”

Attacks against the Iranian regime would be approved if the regime were to rebuild missile stockpiles, and immediate approval would follow any attempts to redevelop nuclear capacity, according to the president.

He said a diplomatic solution is ideal for all parties.

“I heard Iran wants to make a deal,” Trump said. “If they want to make a deal, that’s much smarter.”

The president declined to comment on a possible regime change in Iran but noted the troubles facing the country, including inflation and weak economic conditions.

“Iran has been greatly reduced in power, prestige,” Trump said. “I don’t want to use the word ‘humiliation.’”

Netanyahu thanked Trump for the opportunity to meet and for his continued support of Israel.

“We’ve never had a friend like President Trump in the White House. It’s not even close,” the prime minister said. “I think it’s not merely Israel’s great fortune; it’s the world’s great fortune.”

After the meeting, Netanyahu said his nation will award its highest civilian honor, the Israel Prize, to Trump, who will be the first non-Israeli to receive the prize. The prize was announced formally on Monday by Israel’s Minister of Education, he said.

Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Dec. 28 and told reporters afterward that a peace deal with Russia was close, pending further details.