Netanyahu and Trump started a war together. Now, their differing goals have put them at odds

By — Julia Frankel, Associated Press Julia Frankel, Associated Press By — Aamer Madhani, Associated Press Aamer Madhani, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/netanyahu-and-trump-started-a-war-together-now-their-differing-goals-have-put-them-at-odds Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Netanyahu and Trump started a war together. Now, their differing goals have put them at odds World Jun 9, 2026 1:29 PM EDT JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's latest strikes on Lebanon and Iran have made clear that U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who started the war in lockstep, want different things. WATCH: Exchange of missile strikes between Israel and Iran threatens fragile ceasefire Trump had publicly warned Israel not to strike Beirut in its war with Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. When it did, on Sunday, Iran responded by firing ballistic missiles at Israel for the first time since the April ceasefire. Israel then struck Iran, with which Trump has been engaged in weeks of high-stakes negotiations. The fighting has since died down , but the differences between the two leaders are likely to persist. That's because Trump, whose party faces elections later this year, wants to wind down an unpopular war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to ease gas prices. Iran says a full ceasefire in Lebanon is key to any deal. Netanyahu, who also faces elections this year, is under pressure to stop Hezbollah's attacks and prove that he is winning the war with Iran and its allies. He also needs to manage relations with Israel's most important ally without appearing to kowtow to it. Political considerations push in opposite directions When the United States and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, the allies appeared shoulder to shoulder. Netanyahu said the goal was to degrade the Islamic Republic's military, eradicate its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and topple its government. Trump announced the death of Iran's supreme leader in the opening barrage and urged Iranians to "take back" their country. But it soon became clear that while Trump was seeking a quick win — like the one he secured in Venezuela — Netanyahu wanted to vanquish Iran and its allies, even if it required an extended conflict. As Iran withstood weeks of heavy strikes and kept the Strait of Hormuz closed, Americans and Israelis grew increasingly frustrated — but for different reasons. In the U.S., the price of gas and other goods soared as even some erstwhile supporters accused Trump of breaking a campaign promise and plunging the U.S. into another Mideast quagmire. He has pushed back against those critics as rising anger threatens Republicans in November's congressional elections. In Israel, anger grew over Netanyahu's failure to secure a lasting victory in the wars sparked by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack, which happened on his watch. More than two years on, Hamas still rules part