Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter put the rumor mill to shame this week, publicly dismissing breathless reports of a rift between President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Leiter, speaking on conservative platforms including Fox’s Life, Liberty & Levin and other interviews, made clear that what the mainstream press inflates into a crisis is nothing more than ordinary diplomatic give-and-take.
The story that set off the fireworks was an Axios piece claiming President Trump was frustrated with Mr. Netanyahu and pressing him to “wrap up” the Gaza operations — a political take the media immediately turned into a narrative of betrayal. That Axios report stoked panic among the anti-Trump crowd and fueled headlines that weren’t rooted in the full context of diplomacy and allied coordination.
Leiter didn’t mince words when he pushed back, calling those breathless dispatches “nonsense” and reminding listeners he’d personally witnessed the warm, close relationship between the two leaders at high-level meetings. If anyone is in a position to know, it’s the ambassador who sat beside the prime minister during White House engagements and saw firsthand how these leaders interact.
Prime Minister Netanyahu himself has likewise insisted the relationship with President Trump is “excellent,” directly rebutting Israeli and international outlets that tried to manufacture a wedge. Jerusalem’s own statements, backed by senior envoys, make clear that Washington and Jerusalem remain strategic partners despite tactical disagreements that always arise in robust alliances.
Let’s be honest: there are real policy disagreements — especially on how to handle a post-conflict Gaza and how to confront Iran — and those sober debates were reported across the media as a matter of fact. But legitimate strategic debate is not a “rift,” and opportunistic outlets have a clear agenda when they distort normal differences into stories of discord.
Conservatives should squarely reject the media’s favorite pastime of sowing doubt between allies and leaders who deliver results. Ambassador Leiter did his duty by setting the record straight, and hardworking Americans who love this country and its friends abroad should demand the same honesty from our press. No spin, no sabotage, just the plain truth about the strong ties that bind our nations.
If you want real leadership, look at the men and women on the field, not the narrative factories on Madison Avenue and K Street. Stand with America, stand with Israel, and don’t be fooled by headlines designed to divide patriotic Americans from the tough, effective diplomacy that protects our interests.
