CNN Announced about Rising Tensions Between Trump and Netanyahu

While a White House spokesman said Trump was surprised by recent Israeli attacks on Gaza and government buildings in Syria, CNN reported on growing doubts about Netanyahu in the White House.

News ID: 86479

Date: 22 July 2025 - 11:10

TEHRAN (Defapress) - The White House officially announced that the U.S. President was surprised by Israel’s attacks last week on Gaza and Syria and, in both cases, was forced to make emergency phone calls to the Prime Minister of the Zionist regime to resolve the matter.

The American network CNN reported that this issue reflects growing tensions between Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump.

The bombing of Gaza’s only Catholic church last week drew a negative reaction from Trump, who, during a phone call, strongly criticized Netanyahu and pressured him into issuing a public apology and statement of regret.

Caroline Lewitt, the White House spokesperson, told reporters on Monday: "The President has a good working relationship with Netanyahu and is in frequent contact with him. However, he was surprised by the bombing in Syria as well as the attack on the Catholic church in Gaza. In both cases, the President immediately called the Israeli Prime Minister to rectify the situation."

Lewitt also mentioned the efforts of Secretary of State Marco Rubio to de-escalate tensions in Syria, where Trump has lifted sanctions and expressed support for its new leader, Abu Muhammad al-Julani.

CNN noted that Trump and Netanyahu have a complex relationship; while they are closely aligned in their cooperation to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, their personalities are vastly different, leading to increasing mutual distrust.

During a recent dinner in the White House Blue Room, Netanyahu theatrically presented Trump with a letter he had written nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Trump had hoped that Netanyahu’s four-day visit to Washington would lead to a breakthrough for a ceasefire in Gaza. The U.S. President had repeatedly stated before the trip that he expected an immediate truce. However, Netanyahu left the U.S. without agreeing to a ceasefire.

Lewitt commented: "The long-standing conflict in the Middle East has become particularly brutal in recent days, with more people being killed. The President never wants to see such things and demands an end to the bloodshed."

The White House spokesperson further claimed:
"Donald Trump’s persistence is the main reason aid is being distributed in Gaza. He wants this to happen peacefully, with no one killed. This is an extremely difficult and complex situation inherited from the previous administration, and I think he deserves credit regardless."

Last night, the foreign ministers of 25 Western countries strongly condemned Israel’s use of starvation as a weapon against the people of Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that nearly a thousand people have been killed while seeking humanitarian aid.