Netanyahu Cuts US Visit Short, Skips Trump Meeting

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has significantly shortened his upcoming visit to the United States to just a few hours. His staff's efforts to arrange a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump were unsuccessful. Originally scheduled to arrive in New York on Wednesday and speak on Thursday before returning, Netanyahu's itinerary has been drastically reduced. He is now set to arrive Thursday morning, deliver his address to the UN General Assembly in the afternoon, and immediately depart for Israel.

The visit is described as "exceptionally short" compared to his previous trips. A planned meeting with businessman Elon Musk in Texas has also been canceled, with an Israeli delegation having already traveled to the state for preparations. Netanyahu himself reportedly made the decision to cancel the Texas trip, which was logistically complex due to refueling requirements for the flight from Israel.

No meeting with President Trump will take place, despite attempts by Netanyahu's team to schedule one. Trump is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Tuesday before returning to Washington, where he is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Netanyahu's office had initially announced his participation in the UN General Assembly meetings from September 23-25. This visit occurs amidst an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court in November 2024 for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians. Earlier, New York City Mayor Eric Adams had stated his administration considered arresting Netanyahu during a potential visit, but clarified he lacked the authority, urging the federal government to act.