Netanyahu, like other world leaders, hopes to save his country from the new tariffs Mr. Trump is imposing, even as conflict in the Middle East continues and hostages remain in the hands of Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday announced from the Oval Office that his nation would eliminate tariffs imposed by his nation on American goods. He became the first world leader to visit the White House after Trump announced new tariff rates with trade partners across the globe.

President Trump announced Monday that his administration would convene direct talks with Iran later this week — saying that he hopes for “a deal” to avoid “the obvious” military alternative. “We’re having direct talks with Iran,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office while hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “On Saturday we have a very big meeting … doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious.”