US President Donald Trump strongly praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a high-profile meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, saying Israel “might not exist” without Netanyahu’s leadership. The meeting took place amid the ongoing war in Gaza and rising tensions across the Middle East. 

Speaking to reporters before the talks, Trump described Netanyahu as a leader who had done a “phenomenal job” guiding Israel through years of conflict, particularly during its fight against Hamas. Trump repeatedly highlighted his confidence in Netanyahu’s ability to lead Israel during wartime and said his leadership had been central to the country’s survival. 

“Israel might not exist without a leader like Netanyahu,” Trump said. He added that the Israeli prime minister had shown strength and determination while steering the country through one of the most difficult periods in its history. 

Trump also issued a sharp warning to Iran during his remarks, making it clear that the United States would not accept any renewed attempt by Tehran to develop nuclear weapons.  “If Iran tries to build its nuclear arsenal again, we’ll knock the hell out of them,” Trump said, signalling a tough stance on Iran’s nuclear programme. Netanyahu became the second foreign leader to visit Mar-a-Lago within two days, underlining the importance Trump placed on the talks. 

During their visit, Trump and Netanyahu held a private lunch and discussed several major issues related to the Middle East. These included the next phase of the Gaza peace plan, the situation in the occupied West Bank, and broader regional security concerns. 

Trump told reporters ahead of the meeting that he planned to discuss “five major subjects” with Netanyahu. He later suggested that progress had been made on three of those topics within the first few minutes of their discussions. However, more than an hour after the talks began, both leaders emerged without announcing any specific new agreements or milestones. 

Instead, the meeting was marked by warm words and mutual praise, with both leaders highlighting their close personal relationship and long-standing political alignment. Despite the absence of concrete announcements, Trump said discussions were continuing and expressed confidence that agreements would eventually be reached, including on sensitive matters such as the West Bank. 

After the talks, Netanyahu publicly praised Trump, saying Israel had never had a stronger ally in the White House. In a post on X, the Israeli prime minister said Trump’s support for Israel was unmatched. 

“Israel has never had a friend in the White House like President Trump. His leadership, clarity, and unwavering support for Israel are exceptional,” Netanyahu wrote. 

He added that Trump had consistently stood by Israel during difficult times. 
“True friendship is proven in moments of challenge, and President Trump has stood with Israel every step of the way,” Netanyahu said. 

Speaking alongside Trump, Netanyahu described the meeting as “very, very productive” and credited the former US president with achieving “remarkable things” in the Middle East through close cooperation with Israel. 

While acknowledging that the two leaders do not agree on every issue, Netanyahu said their history showed they were able to work through disagreements. “Sometimes we have different ideas, but we work it out, and most of the time, we see eye to eye,” he said. 

Following their bilateral meeting in Florida, Netanyahu announced that Trump would be awarded Israel’s highest civilian honour, the Israel Prize for Peace. The announcement, reported by CNN, marked a historic decision by the Israeli government. 

Netanyahu said the award would be given to Trump for his contribution to Israel and the Jewish people. This will be the first time in 80 years that the Israel Prize is awarded to a non-Israeli citizen and also the first time the Peace category of the prize has been conferred. 

The announcement was made during a joint press briefing after the talks at Mar-a-Lago. Trump responded by saying the honour was unexpected and deeply appreciated. 

“President Trump has broken so many conventions to surprise people, so we decided to break a convention or create a new one that is to award the Israel Prize, which in 80 years, we have never awarded to a non-Israeli, to President Trump,” Netanyahu said. 

“This was announced formally over lunch by our Minister of Education that President Donald J Trump should be awarded this prize for his immense contribution to the Israeli and the Jewish people,” he added. 

Netanyahu further said, “This reflects the overwhelming sentiment of Israelis across the spectrum, they appreciate what you’ve done to help Israel and our common battle against the terrorists.” 

Trump responded to the announcement by saying the award was “really surprising and very much appreciated.” 

The Israel Prize is the country’s highest civilian honour and is traditionally awarded to Israeli citizens for excellence in areas such as science, arts, and humanities. The Peace category had never been awarded before. In July 2025, Israel amended the rules of the prize to allow it to be given to a foreign citizen, making Trump’s selection possible. 

The Florida meeting ended without formal policy announcements, but both leaders stressed that discussions would continue. The visit highlighted the close ties between Trump and Netanyahu and underscored their shared positions on key Middle East issues during a period of intense regional instability.