On July 2, 2026, President Donald Trump stated during an interview with CNBC that he is the 'best president in the history of Israel.' This remark comes as his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces strain due to ongoing tensions related to Iran. Trump asserted that he has been a significant ally to Israel during challenging times and questioned how Jewish voters could support the Democratic Party.
He referenced a '99% figure' regarding his support among Israelis and emphasized the importance of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Trump claimed to have defeated Iran militarily but acknowledged that some military capabilities remain.
Recent U.S. military actions against Iran followed an attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Indirect negotiations between the U.S. and Iran are currently taking place in Qatar, with Vice President JD Vance overseeing the U.S. side of the talks. Trump expressed optimism about the negotiations, stating that progress has been made.
Despite Israel's involvement in previous military actions against Iran, the country has not been included in the current peace talks, leading to tensions between Trump and Netanyahu. Trump criticized Netanyahu for a military strike in Beirut that he believes jeopardized the peace process, expressing his frustration with the Israeli leader's judgment.