How deep is the friendship between Bibi Netanyahu and Donald Trump? How much of a true friend has Donald Trump been to the State of Israel? These are questions that many are asking now following the successful war against Iran that Israel began and the United States finished off with a massive B-2 bomber attack at Fordow.
The answer is not as black and white as some may think. Donald Trump, for the 4.5 years of his being President has enacted policy after er policy that has been clearly pro-Israel. His decision to actually move the Embassy to Jerusalem, and not merely pledge to move the US Embassy clearly displayed the fact that he was not just a talker, but a doer. However, his crippling sanctions on Iran between 2016 and 2020 were far more important in supporting the Israeli position that Iran must be stopped.
The Abraham Accords are certainly one of the most important accomplishments of any US President in the last half a century in the Middle East. Moreover, even before Donald Trump took over in Jan. 2025 to begin his 2nd term, the ramifications for the Israeli war effort against Hamas, Hizbuallah, Yemen and Iran were dramatic. Within days of his assumption of his 2nd term, the weapons that Israel sorely needed were already being prepared for shipment to Israel. Donald Trump’s decision to appoint Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, and Mike Walz to lead up his foreign policy decision-making was a clear signal where his opinions on Israel were.
But ultimately, in times of crisis, such as when Netanyahu and the IDF brass decided to attack Iran in a massive surprise attack, Donald Trump had to decide if he would object or follow up the attack with a US attack to finish the job. The fateful decision that Donald Trump made to follow up Israel’s attack with a lightning strike from B-2 bombers that flew from Missouri to Iran, and then to immediately call for a ceasefire and declare the end of the war will probably turn into a playbook that many will copy in future conflagrations.
Donald Trump does not think so much in terms of friendship as much as he thinks in terms of right and wrong for the USA. He is no isolationist, but has spoken clearly for decades against forever wars. Remember, he was a young adult during the Vietnam War, and a mature adult during the US War on Iraq. His clear-headedness leads him to realize that supporting the Israeli position or Israeli leadership is not always in line with the interests of the USA. But Trump realizes that more often than not, Israel is in the right and it’s attackers are in the wrong.
For diplomatic reasons, it is wise to speak about Donald Trump’s friendship with Israel and to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize that he justifiably deserves. But, nobody should fool themselves into thinking that Donald Trump will always be in Israel’s corner. There is nobody on the Democrat side of the aisle who would be anywhere close to Donald Trump as far as supporting Israel. But on the Republican side, there are others who would be even more supportive. However, it must be noted that President Trump has appointed many of them to powerful positions, such as Rubio and Hegseth. And for that too, Pres. Trump should be recognized and thanked.
In summation, Pres. Trump’s track record on Israel is not flawless, and may prove more complex in coming years. But, all in all, he has been an enormous blessing for the State of Israel and world Jewry in general.