Trump and Netanyahu hold wide-ranging talks

U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a joint press conference in Washington on Monday, covering topics from Gaza and hostages to tariffs and China.

Standing beside Netanyahu at the White House, Trump said he “would like to see the war stop” in Gaza and expressed hope for a resolution “not in the too-distant future.” He noted that efforts were underway to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, but added that the process remained “long and difficult.”

On trade, Trump reaffirmed that he would not pause tariffs despite global economic turmoil, doubling down on his threat to impose an additional 50% levy on Chinese goods. He hinted, however, that he remained open to negotiations with friendly nations. Markets reacted swiftly — the UK’s FTSE 100 index closed down more than 4% on the day.

“This is not the time to back down,” Trump said, defending his trade stance while acknowledging the volatility it has triggered.

The press conference, which comes amid rising global tension and concern over the economic fallout of U.S. tariffs, underscored Trump’s twin focus: strong diplomatic posturing abroad, and unwavering economic pressure at home.

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