President Donald Trump will host a joint press conference at the White House today Tuesday 04/02/2025, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. This marks Trump’s first joint news conference with a foreign leader since beginning his second term.
Netanyahu, commenting ahead of his visit, highlighted the significance of being the first foreign leader to meet with Trump, calling it a reflection of the strong Israeli-American alliance. The Israeli leader’s visit coincides with a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, with ongoing negotiations for a second phase to secure the release of remaining hostages and bring an end to the ongoing conflict.
While Trump expressed cautious optimism about the ceasefire’s potential, he emphasized that he had no guarantees of peace, noting the brutality witnessed in the region. However, his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, who played a key role in brokering the first phase of the ceasefire, indicated that the agreement “has held so far.”
During their talks, Netanyahu and Trump are expected to focus on “victory over Hamas”, the release of all hostages, and addressing the broader Iranian threat in the region, including Iran’s role in supporting various proxies, including Hamas.
Additionally, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, further emphasizing the ongoing diplomatic focus on the Middle East conflict.
The press conference and talks come at a pivotal moment as the U.S. seeks to strengthen its alliances in the Middle East while navigating the delicate dynamics of the ceasefire.
