Israel Isn’t the Problem, Mr. President

The press, both in America and abroad, would like nothing more than to blame Israel for the Trump administration’s failure to negotiate a durable political settlement to the war with the Islamic Republic of Iran. For some inexplicable reason, the Trump administration is ill-advisedly contributing to their cause.

In impromptu remarks to reporters on the tarmac yesterday, Donald Trump admonished Netanyahu concerning Israel’s continued prosecution of its conflict with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. “It has to stop,” the president said. “We want to get it finished.” That was probably a more diplomatic version of the irritation Trump admitted to expressing with his Israeli counterpart over Netanyahu’s commitment to degrading Hezbollah’s capacity to strike Israeli territory.

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.

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The press, both in America and abroad, would like nothing more than to blame Israel for the Trump administration’s failure to negotiate a durable political settlement to the war with the Islamic Republic of Iran. For some inexplicable reason, the Trump administration is ill-advisedly contributing to their cause.

In impromptu remarks to reporters on the tarmac yesterday, Donald Trump admonished Netanyahu concerning Israel’s continued prosecution of its conflict with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. “It has to stop,” the president said. “We want to get it finished.” That was probably a more diplomatic version of the irritation Trump admitted to expressing with his Israeli counterpart over Netanyahu’s commitment to degrading Hezbollah’s capacity to strike Israeli territory.

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.