Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not expected to meet U.S. President Donald Trump during his visit to the United States to address the United Nations General Assembly. The expectation comes as tensions rise between Washington and Tel Aviv over how to handle the Gaza, Lebanon and Iran files.
Yediot Ahronoth reported that there are no plans for a meeting with Trump despite efforts by Netanyahu’s team. The newspaper said Netanyahu is expected to stay in New York for only a few hours and return directly to Israel after his address to the United Nations General Assembly.
Trump’s Washington schedule
Trump is scheduled to travel to Washington after addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday and meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Netanyahu, meanwhile, is expected to arrive in New York on the morning of the day he is scheduled to speak, travel to the United Nations headquarters after landing at a military airfield outside New York, and return to Tel Aviv after his address.
Yediot Ahronoth described the itinerary as extremely short compared with Netanyahu’s visits to the United States in recent years.
Meeting with Elon Musk in Texas canceled
The newspaper also reported that Netanyahu canceled a planned meeting with businessman Elon Musk in Texas. According to the report, the lack of a nonstop flight from Israel to Texas made the itinerary difficult, as it required a stop for refueling within the United States.
Disagreement between Washington and Tel Aviv
U.S. Vice President J. D. Vance said in a statement on Wednesday that Washington does not always share Israel’s views. Vance said they could not allow U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East to be conducted in a way that serves Israel’s interests.
Vance also said Trump was more willing than any president in the past 40 years to distance himself from Netanyahu when he believed the interests of the American people and those of the Israeli government diverged.
Israel-based private Channel 15 also reported that Netanyahu is expected to land directly at a military airfield outside New York, then travel to the United Nations headquarters to deliver his address before returning to Israel. Neither Israel nor the United States has officially announced whether Trump and Netanyahu will hold a bilateral meeting.
The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly is continuing following the 2026–2027 session, which began on September 8. The high-level general debate is scheduled to take place from September 22 to 28.
