Netanyahu May Add Texas Stop, Meet Elon Musk on US Trip

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly considering a significant alteration to his upcoming two-day visit to the United States, potentially including a stop in Texas to meet with entrepreneur Elon Musk and visit SpaceX facilities. The "Maariv" newspaper cited this scenario, while "Walla" reported that a preliminary team from Netanyahu's office is already in Texas exploring the possibility of adding the state to the itinerary. The specific purpose of this potential Texas visit remains undisclosed, and a final decision has not yet been made.

Netanyahu's primary engagement during the trip, scheduled for next week, is to attend the UN General Assembly in New York and deliver a speech on Thursday, September 24. The tight schedule is dictated by the need to return to Israel before the Sukkot holiday. A detour to Texas would notably complicate the logistics of the brief visit.

If the Texas stop materializes, Netanyahu might tour a SpaceX complex involved in developing and testing space technology, such as the Starship program, and meet with Musk. The reasons for such a meeting are not officially stated, making any speculation about specific projects premature. The "Walla" portal also suggested that Netanyahu might spend a night in Texas or another location before heading to his UN address.

The final itinerary has not been confirmed by the Israeli side. Netanyahu will travel on the "Wing of Zion" government plane, but the specific Texas airport, if visited, is yet to be determined. Meanwhile, the possibility of a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump remains uncertain. Trump responded with "I may" when asked by Axios about a potential meeting in New York. "Israel Hayom" reported that instead of Trump, Netanyahu might meet with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, though "The Times of Israel" quoted the Prime Minister's office confirming the program is still unapproved.