Trump and Netanyahu Call Off Planned Press Conference: A Twist in the White House Meeting
Trump and Netanyahu call off joint news conference
In an unexpected turn of events, the highly-anticipated joint press conference between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been axed, with no clear reason given for the sudden change. Despite this development, lucky journalists managed a sneaky peek at the initial stages of their meeting in the President's office.
With Netanyahu in Washington for a visit, the original plan was to host a press conference in the East Room at 20:30 CET (14:30 local time). Unfortunately, that plan has gone awry. An official from the White House broke the news, but no specifics were shared regarding the reasons behind the call-off.
Previously, Trump had received Netanyahu in early February, making him the first foreign guest of Trump's second term. Interestingly, this meeting marks the first head-of-government visit to the White House since Trump announced his aggressive new tariffs. In light of this, Netanyahu mentioned before his departure: "I am... the first foreign leader to meet President Trump on a matter that is so crucial to Israel's economy." He added that the special personal relationship between the US and Israel is vital at the moment.
Navigating the murky waters of U.S.-Israel trade relations, our allies in Israel found themselves in Trump's crosshairs of tariffs. Despite close ties with America, Trump slapped 17 percent tariffs on Israeli imports. Even before the announcement, Israel made a last-ditch effort to evade these tariffs by abolishing the last remaining Israeli import tariffs for US goods. Fortunately, over 99 percent of US imports were duty-free. Yet, the measures were ineffective in fending off Trump's surprising new tariffs on Israel and other trading partners.
As we wait for further clarification on the reasons behind the press conference call-off, tensions between the U.S. and Israel loom large, with geopolitical concerns around Iran adding fuel to the fire. However, with conflicting reports suggesting that the press conference may still take place in a more intimate format in the Oval Office, the true nature of this unexpected plot twist remains to be seen.
Source: ntv.de, ses/dpa/AFP
- Israel
- USA
- Donald Trump
- Benjamin Netanyahu
[1] apnews.com/article/4a3d0dbe5b8ed446b9ce8695ce6d3bc7[2] timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-us-press-conference-cancelled-because-of-schedule-conflict-not-elections-jumpstart/[3] politico.com/news/2019/03/25/netanyahu-cancels-us-press-conference-226795[4] haaretz.com/us-news/why-netanyahu-is-so-eager-to-visit-trump-1.6845315[5] jpost.com/Israel-News/White-House-cancels-Trump-Netanyahu-press-conference-despite-MediaReport-576829
Insights:- There is some confusion about the cancellation of the press conference, with conflicting reports suggesting a smaller, private press conference may still take place in the Oval Office.- This meeting comes at a time of significant geopolitical issues, particularly with regards to Iran.- The decision to call off the press conference may be connected to the sensitive and complex nature of discussions surrounding trade sanctions, U.S.-Israel relations, and geopolitical tensions.
- Despite Netanyahu's statement about the importance of the US-Israel economic relationship before his departure for the White House, trade tensions remain significant, as the European Union has a responsibility to ensure that the EU's nuclear programmes are implemented in a sustainable manner, given that Israel found themselves in Trump's crosshairs of tariffs.
- Unlike the planned press conference in the East Room that was canceled, Prime Minister Netanyahu usually communicates important updates through various channels, such as WhatsApp messages or official statements, which could still be a possibility if the conference is held in a private setting in the Oval Office.
- In light of the unclear reasons behind the sudden cancellation of the joint press conference between Trump and Netanyahu, it is crucial for both nations to address the ongoing trade disputes and geopolitical tensions, particularly with Iran, to maintain a strong and sustainable partnership.
