President Trump and Netanyahu Discuss Key Issues at Mar-a-Lago

On Monday, December 29, 2025, President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago resort for private discussions aimed at strengthening a fragile ceasefire in Gaza and addressing Israel’s worries about Iran’s missile capabilities.

The day included closed meetings, a working lunch, and a public press conference afterward. Netanyahu had arrived in Florida the day before and was expected to advocate for a more assertive U.S. approach towards disarming Hamas, as well as share intelligence about Iran’s missile program, which is reportedly being rebuilt following previous damage.

This meeting comes at a pivotal moment, especially since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, established in October after two years of conflict, still faces significant hurdles in shifting to a more complex second phase. President Trump indicated that the leaders would tackle “five major topics,” with a keen emphasis on the situation in Gaza.

During the talks, Trump underscored the importance of fully disarming Hamas before any further actions are considered, expressing a hopeful outlook for Gaza’s reconstruction, which he said would commence “soon.” Although the ceasefire had brought an end to large-scale hostilities, Hamas still maintains weaponry, including rockets and small arms.

Ukraine Developments

Before turning to Israeli matters, Trump responded to questions about Ukraine, revealing details of a morning call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump shared that Putin had warned him about a potential Ukrainian drone strike on a presidential residence, claiming it took place after a U.S.-Ukrainian meeting with President Zelensky.

When queried whether the U.S. intelligence community had corroborated the attack, Trump suggested it was “possible” the event didn’t occur. He characterized his conversation with Putin as constructive, but acknowledged “some very thorny issues” linger regarding peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.

In Sunday’s remarks, Zelensky dismissed the accusations from the Kremlin as baseless, claiming they aim to obstruct ongoing diplomatic efforts and justify further aggression against Ukraine.

Concerns Over Iran

At the Mar-a-Lago meeting, Trump warned Iran that the U.S. would be ready to “knock it down” if the nation attempted to rebuild its nuclear facilities, which had been heavily damaged in a U.S.-Israel counterattack earlier in June.

While the airstrikes effectively dismantled significant portions of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, some capabilities remain intact, particularly concerning missile production. Trump elaborated on his stance towards potential military action, stating he would “absolutely” support an assault on Israel if Iran resumed its missile program or advanced its nuclear efforts, labeling the U.S. response as “swift” and “immediate.”

Despite these threats, the top U.S. military commander remarked that he still believed the Iranian leadership sought negotiations but expressed regret that a deal wasn’t achieved prior to the June attacks.

Following these statements, a close aide to Iran’s Supreme Leader threatened a severe retaliation against any new attack on Iran.

The Gaza Ceasefire Agreement

The ceasefire in Gaza, pivotal to Trump’s broader peace initiative, followed the devastating Hamas-led assault on Israel that began in October 2023. Although hostilities have ceased in the immediate sense, Israel continues to report extremist activities and delays related to the return of hostages. The proposed second phase involves the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the disarmament of Hamas, and the establishment of temporary international governance for reconstruction efforts under U.N. supervision.

However, tensions persist. U.S. officials have voiced frustrations over perceived delays from Israel, while Netanyahu insists on fulfilling prior commitments, notably the return of the remains of the last Israeli hostage, 24-year-old Ran Gviri, who was taken by Hamas during an attack.

Netanyahu asserted that Hamas needed to complete the first phase, including the return of Gviri’s remains, before discussions could advance to the second phase, emphasizing this as a critical condition under the ceasefire agreement.

Amid these discussions, U.S. officials expressed growing dissatisfaction over tactics seen as impeding Israel’s progress, particularly Netanyahu’s insistence on linking the unresolved issue to the next phase.

Before his meeting with Trump, Netanyahu conferred with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accompanied by Gviri’s family.

Comments on Syria

Additionally, Trump addressed the situation in Syria, expressing hope for improved relations with the new government after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad in 2024. The interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharah, assumed power in December 2024 after a military coalition took control of Damascus, effectively ending Assad’s long-standing regime.

Trump mentioned his desire for the new Syrian leadership to foster good relations with Israel, stating, “I hope he is working hard to do a good job.” He noted his previous decision to lift sanctions on Syria, which he believed would provide them with a chance to stabilize.

Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s goal for a peaceful border with Syria, emphasizing the need for protection against terrorism. While the U.S. has welcomed al-Sharah as a partner against ISIS, Israel retains a military presence in a buffer zone within Syria to combat perceived threats.

Awarding Trump the Israel Prize

In the aftermath of their meeting, Netanyahu announced Israel’s decision to honor President Trump with the Israel Prize, acknowledging his substantial contributions to Israel and the Jewish community. This award, typically reserved for Israeli citizens, reflects a sentiment among Israelis who view Trump as a supportive ally.

The Education Minister confirmed the nominations by phone, detailing the reasons for the award, which include Trump’s fight against anti-Semitism, support for Israel’s right to defend itself, and his significant role in returning hostages.