The Atlantic on Thursday reported that a growing rift has emerged between Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to The Atlantic, Trump has become increasingly unsettled by the public backlash over "Israel’s" starvation siege on Gaza. While Trump had previously offered Netanyahu a symbolic boost by attacking Israeli prosecutors handling his corruption case, and Netanyahu returned the favor by nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, the article reports that this mutual flattery quickly gave way to tension over "Israel’s" ongoing military campaign and its catastrophic humanitarian consequences.

Citing unnamed administration officials, the report claims that Trump was disturbed by the surfacing of recent images of emaciated Palestinian children and the destruction of Gaza’s only Catholic church by an Israeli missile. He reportedly sent his envoy, Steve Witkoff, to the region to pressure "Israel" into allowing more aid into Gaza, because, as one adviser told the outlet, "he just really wants these stories to stop being on TV."

Optical Dissonance

In a notable shift from Netanyahu’s outright denial of famine in Gaza, Trump told reporters this week when asked whether he agreed with the Israeli Prime Minister's assessment on the situation in Gaza, "Based on television, I would say not particularly, because those children look very hungry… That’s real starvation stuff. I see it, and you can’t fake that."

Yet The Atlantic notes that Trump’s displeasure has not translated into policy change. While privately criticizing Netanyahu for prolonging the war to cling to power, the White House continues to shield "Israel" diplomatically, refuses to back calls for Palestinian statehood, and blames Hamas for the breakdown in cease-fire talks. On Truth Social, Trump doubled down on this line, posting: "The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!!"

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The report notes that the administration has tasked Witkoff with independently evaluating conditions in Gaza and the viability of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has been widely condemned for fueling mass civilian deaths. However, this initiative appears more focused on salvaging Washington’s image than holding Tel Aviv accountable.

According to The Atlantic, the White House now suspects that Netanyahu is acting in defiance of US interests by escalating strikes in Gaza and Syria, and undermining ceasefire efforts. Still, a senior US official quoted in the piece insisted that there is "no significant rupture" in the US-"Israel" relationship.

Dissent in popular base

The report also highlights rising dissent within Trump’s political base. MAGA-aligned figures like Steve Bannon, Tucker Carlson, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who this week labeled "Israel’s" actions in Gaza a "genocide", have begun to openly criticize Trump’s unwavering support for "Israel". This growing discontent, paired with backlash over other scandals such as the administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, has further complicated Trump’s attempts to manage his public image.

Despite these frictions, The Atlantic affirms that Trump still backs "Israel’s" broader war objectives, including the complete dismantling of Hamas and advancing the normalization accords. 

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