Washington, D.C. – Former President Donald Trump was reportedly “caught by surprise” last week by Israeli military actions in both Gaza and Syria, prompting him to personally call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express dissatisfaction and seek clarification. The incident, confirmed by the White House, highlights growing tensions between the two leaders despite their long-standing alliance.
According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump reacted immediately to a controversial Israeli airstrike that struck the only Catholic church in Gaza on Thursday. “The president called Prime Minister Netanyahu to voice his displeasure and asked that the strike be publicly acknowledged as a mistake,” Leavitt told reporters Monday.
A similar reaction followed Israeli airstrikes on government buildings in Damascus, Syria, which Trump also viewed as undermining U.S. efforts to stabilize the war-torn country. The former president is currently supporting a transitional process led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former rebel leader who has recently assumed interim leadership in Syria, with U.S. backing and sanctions relief.
“President Trump enjoys a working relationship with Bibi Netanyahu and maintains regular communication,” Leavitt stated. “But in these instances, he was surprised by the timing and targets of the operations.”
The incident underscores the evolving and often strained dynamic between Trump and Netanyahu. While politically aligned, sources familiar with their relationship describe it as professionally cooperative but personally distant, sometimes marked by mutual distrust.
Still, earlier this month the two appeared closer than ever during Netanyahu’s four-day visit to Washington. In a symbolic gesture during a state dinner in the White House Blue Room, the Israeli Prime Minister presented a letter he had submitted to the Nobel Committee nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize—an acknowledgment of Trump’s past Middle East initiatives.
Trump had hoped the visit would produce progress toward a ceasefire in Gaza, including the release of hostages held by Hamas and a substantial increase in humanitarian aid permitted into the enclave. Ahead of the visit, Trump had repeatedly expressed optimism that an agreement could be reached within the week.
Despite the symbolic gestures and public diplomacy, the recent military strikes appear to have complicated the U.S. administration’s ongoing diplomatic efforts in the region, signaling that even close allies are not immune to sharp disagreements over strategy.
