Trump to host Netanyahu for seventh White House visit today, flouting political risk
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President Donald Trump is set to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday for their seventh meeting of his second term, the first since they jointly launched the war with Iran on February 28. The high-profile visit comes despite growing Republican disillusionment with the war and its economic costs, particularly among Trump's base, with midterm elections just over three months away.
Political Risk and Republican Discontent
A slate of recent polls shows growing Republican unease with the war with Iran. A Politico poll released last week found that only 33% of self-identified MAGA voters believe the economic costs are justified. Andrew Day, senior editor at The American Conservative, noted that Netanyahu has not visited since the war began, likely because 'the war so quickly devolved into a disaster that it just becomes bad optics.' With Republicans facing midterm elections in three months, the meeting could prove politically costly.
Diplomatic Overture
Trump signalled on Monday that Washington was pursuing a new diplomatic overture with Iran, following the dissolution of a June 17 memorandum of understanding that had paused fighting. Netanyahu’s government had vehemently opposed that agreement, arguing it strengthened Tehran. The renewed diplomacy comes despite Israel’s continued push for regime change and a zero-tolerance policy on Iran’s nuclear programme.
Waning Support Base
The perception that Israel pulled the US into the war has eroded support, particularly as the conflict has dragged on without a clear resolution. While Democratic opposition remains higher, Republican approval of US policy toward Israel is slipping. The economic toll — and Netanyahu’s polarising visit — may further strain Trump’s coalition as it looks to November.
What's Next
Netanyahu’s attendance at Senator Lindsey Graham’s funeral and the White House meeting are expected to dominate headlines, but immediate next steps in the Iran diplomacy remain unclear. Analysts warn that the visit could deepen Republican fractures ahead of the midterms, though Trump appears unswayed by the political calculus.
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Trump to host Netanyahu for seventh White House visit today, flouting political risk
