The relationship between the United States and Israel, long a cornerstone of American foreign policy in the Middle East, is showing signs of strain under President Donald Trump’s second administration as of May 14, 2025. Ben Shapiro and Mark Levin aren’t having it.
While this tension isn’t dominating headlines, subtle frictions between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are evident in recent developments, including Trump’s Gulf trip, the Gaza food campaign, the lifting of sanctions on Syria, and criticism from prominent conservative voices like Ben Shapiro and Mark Levin.
Is there a rift under the radar?
If you read Trump’s son in law Jared Kushner’s book, a fight between Bibi and Trump would not surprise you.
Trump’s Gulf Trip, Netanyahu’s Exclusion, and MAGA Backlash
Trump’s Middle East tour, with stops in Saudi Arabia on May 13 and Qatar on May 14, and a planned visit to the UAE on May 15, notably excluded Israel—a move that has sparked unease in Israeli circles.
The Washington Post reported on May 12, 2025, that Trump’s decision to bypass Jerusalem, while engaging in nuclear talks with Iran and negotiating with Hamas and the Houthis, has left Netanyahu sidelined on critical regional issues.
Israeli officials are in “total panic,” according to Shalom Lipner, a former Netanyahu aide cited in the article, especially since the U.S. did not inform Israel about the Houthi ceasefire.
This exclusion, paired with Trump’s focus on Gulf deals, suggests a shift in U.S. priorities away from Israel’s immediate concerns, like Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
The trip also drew criticism from prominent pro-Israel MAGA figures. Axios reported on May 13, 2025, that Ben Shapiro and Mark Levin expressed deep alarm over Trump’s growing ties with Qatar, particularly his acceptance of a $400 million private jet from the Qatari government.
Shapiro remarked, “I think if we switch the names to Hunter Biden and Joe Biden, we’d all be freaking out on the right,” highlighting concerns about ethical implications. Levin, alongside Shapiro and Laura Loomer, called Trump’s embrace of Qatar a line-crossing move, reflecting a rare backlash from the MAGA right over Trump’s Middle East strategy.
This criticism underscores broader unease with Trump’s regional approach, which seems to prioritize Gulf relationships over Israel’s security.
Saudi Arabia’s $600 billion investment deal with the U.S., announced during Trump’s visit, further complicates matters. Reuters reported on May 12, 2025, that the U.S. is no longer demanding Saudi normalization with Israel as a prerequisite for civil nuclear cooperation, isolating Netanyahu’s agenda.
Saudi Arabia has preconditioned normalization on a Palestinian state, which Netanyahu opposes, making progress unlikely and highlighting the divergence between U.S. and Israeli goals.
Saudi Arabia played a significant role on the 9/11 slaughter of our people. I didn’t hear their Crown Prince even apologize once yesterday for what they did to us. And I know the 9/11 families are reeling from this.
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) May 14, 2025
And Qatar protected the leader of the 9/11 attack from the…
Gaza Food Campaign, Syria Sanctions, and Shifting Priorities
The American food campaign in Gaza has also fueled tensions. On May 8, 2025, The Washington Post detailed a U.S.-backed plan for Israel to control aid distribution in southern Gaza, using U.S. security contractors and vetting limited supplies.
This follows a two-month blockade that halted all aid, worsening starvation risks. Arab officials and aid groups have criticized the plan as an Israeli takeover rather than genuine relief, with one diplomat noting it militarizes aid.
This aligns with Trump’s earlier proposal to displace Palestinians from Gaza, which CNN reported on February 4, 2025, as a plan to “take over” the enclave and turn it into a “Riviera of the Middle East”—a move condemned by Arab nations as enabling Israeli occupation.
Trump’s announcement on May 13, 2025, to lift U.S. sanctions on Syria, reported by Reuters, has added another layer of concern for Israel. While aimed at supporting Syria’s reconstruction and fostering ties with Israel, Israeli sentiment is skeptical.
The Times of Israel on May 12, 2025, noted Israel’s view of Syria as a historical threat due to its past ties with Iran and Hezbollah. Although Iran’s influence has weakened, Israelis fear a resurgent Syria could empower anti-Israel factions without firm security guarantees.
Shapiro and Levin’s criticism of Trump’s Qatar ties indirectly reflects broader concerns about such moves, as they see Gulf states like Qatar as potentially complicit in supporting anti-Israel elements, despite Trump’s push for regional stability.
Is the U.S.-Israel Relationship Strained and Underreported?
The strain between the U.S. and Israel is clear but not widely reported as a major crisis. Newsweek on May 13, 2025, quoted a former Netanyahu aide saying, “Trump and Netanyahu are exasperated with each other,” pointing to mutual frustration over unappreciated objectives.
Trump’s unilateral actions—bypassing Netanyahu in key talks, focusing on Gulf deals, and pushing policies like the Gaza aid plan that favor Israeli control—suggest a pragmatic shift prioritizing U.S.-Gulf economic ties over Israel’s concerns.
Shapiro and Levin’s public dissent, as noted by Axios, amplifies this tension, showing that even Trump’s staunch allies are uneasy with his Middle East approach, particularly his Qatar ties and the potential risks to Israel’s security.
Despite this, Trump continues to support Israel in other ways, such as lifting holds on bomb deliveries (CNN, February 4, 2025), indicating a complex dynamic where public friction coexists with underlying alignment on goals like countering Iran.
The lack of widespread reporting may stem from Netanyahu’s reluctance to criticize Trump publicly, given Trump’s popularity with his base, as noted by NBC News on May 11, 2025.
However, the cumulative effect of Trump’s actions, Israeli anxieties, and criticism from figures like Shapiro and Levin points to a strained U.S.-Israel relationship that’s largely underreported. As Trump pursues his Middle East vision, this alliance faces a critical test, potentially reshaping its future in the region.