US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit the United States next week. The announcement was made during Trump’s speech at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, where he referred to Netanyahu by his nickname, “Bibi,” while making a pointed political joke about US Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.
Trump quipped that he would send Schumer “a beautiful Palestinian outfit” so he could welcome Netanyahu upon his arrival in Washington. This comment came alongside a false claim by Trump that Schumer is Palestinian, despite Schumer being Jewish. Schumer has been a vocal critic of Netanyahu’s management of the Gaza conflict, although he has also expressed support for Israel’s security concerns.
Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the Israeli leader will arrive in Washington on Monday and meet with President Trump on Tuesday. Additionally, Netanyahu will attend the funeral of the late US Senator Lindsey Graham, as stated by his office.
This visit is set against a backdrop of heightened sensitivity in US-Israel relations. Washington continues to face international scrutiny over its support for Israel and its diplomatic role amid the ongoing Gaza war and broader Middle East tensions.
During his remarks, Trump joked that Schumer had “turned Palestinian” and mockingly referred to sharia law as Schumer’s “new founding.” These comments have drawn criticism from both US Muslim and Jewish advocacy groups, who have condemned Trump’s use of “Palestinian” as a disrespectful slur aimed at Schumer.
The upcoming Trump-Netanyahu meeting coincides with the fifth month of the US-Israeli conflict involving Iran. Earlier this week, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called for Netanyahu’s arrest during his US visit, citing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued in November 2024. Mamdani accused Netanyahu of war crimes related to Israel’s military operations in Gaza but later admitted that his administration lacks the legal authority to execute such an arrest.
President Trump has already stated that Netanyahu would not be detained while in the United States, making Mamdani’s demand unlikely to result in any legal action. Nevertheless, the call has intensified political debates within the Democratic Party concerning Gaza, accountability, and continued US support for Israel.
