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President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are discussing a possible meeting at the White House next week as the administration considers its next steps in the conflict with Iran, according to reports published Wednesday.
No meeting has been finalized, but the discussions come as the president weighs whether to pursue a new ceasefire proposal aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz or expand military operations against Iran in coordination with Israel, Axios reported.
The report said one option under consideration would resemble the joint launch of Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28. Since returning to office about 18 months ago, Trump has hosted Netanyahu at the White House six times, more than any other foreign leader.
Axios reported that Netanyahu sought a meeting with President Trump last week but was unable to secure one. The Israeli prime minister later said he postponed a planned trip to Washington after memorial events for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., were delayed.
Netanyahu is now expected to travel to Washington next week to attend Graham’s funeral ceremonies at the U.S. Capitol and the Washington National Cathedral, creating the possibility of a White House meeting during the visit.
The announcement comes shortly after President Trump announced on Truth Social that Netanyahu will not be arrested while in the United States. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani previously claimed the prime minister would be arrested upon arriving in the city.
“Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America. He is fighting against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which recently killed 52,000 innocent protestors, and has spent the last 47 years killing American Soldiers, and others,” President Trump wrote.
“The only ones that should be arrested are the people that led Iran into this unprecedented SPIRAL OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION, something that should have been dealt with years ago, by previous Presidents!” he added.
The White House has not announced any plans for a meeting. According to the report, U.S. and Israeli officials are considering two primary paths forward in the conflict: accepting a ceasefire proposal presented by Qatari mediators or launching a broader joint military campaign intended to pressure Tehran into capitulation.
Israeli officials told Axios they are preparing for the possibility of an expanded conflict within days but said Israel would participate only if Iran launches an attack or if the United States requests its involvement.