Netanyahu says Trump will be remembered as the man who brought America back

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said President Donald Trump will ultimately be remembered by history as a transformative leader who restored American strength, dismissing years of political opposition and criticism as temporary noise.

Speaking on Newsmax’s 'The Record With Greta Van Susteren' on Tuesday, December 30, Netanyahu reflected on Trump’s presidency just one day after meeting him at Mar-a-Lago, where he announced that Trump would become the first American to receive the prestigious Israel Prize.

Netanyahu says history favors decisive leaders

Netanyahu, the son of a renowned historian, argued that Trump’s legacy will only grow clearer with time.

“History will judge him well,” Netanyahu said. “Sometimes it takes time for people to appreciate because there’s this battle of constant vilification and political opposition.” 

“But ultimately, you know, that’s settled over time,” he added.

The Israeli leader framed Trump as a figure whose actions, rather than public opinion cycles, would define his place in history.

Netanyahu praises decision to move US Embassy to Jerusalem

Netanyahu pointed to Trump’s decision to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as one of the most consequential foreign policy actions taken by any modern American president, a move promised by predecessors but never executed.

“He says it like it is,” Netanyahu said of Trump. “He cuts to the chase, and then he acts.”

The embassy relocation, carried out in 2018, was hailed by Israel as a long-overdue recognition of Jerusalem as its capital, while critics warned it would inflame regional tensions.

Netanyahu dismissed those concerns, suggesting the decision demonstrated Trump’s willingness to act where others hesitated.

Standing up for Christians in the Middle East

Netanyahu also credited Trump with advocating for persecuted Christian communities across the Middle East, an issue he said aligned closely with Israel’s own values.

“Christians are oppressed everywhere in the Middle East, except in Israel,” Netanyahu said.

“That’s the only place where the Christian community is growing, and it’s thriving because that’s part of our ethos,” he added.

The prime minister said Trump’s willingness to speak openly about religious persecution set him apart from other Western leaders.

Netanyahu on joint efforts to reshape the Middle East

Reflecting on recent conflicts involving Hamas and Hezbollah, Netanyahu said Israel’s response, with US backing, fundamentally altered the regional balance of power.

“After we were attacked by Hamas and Hezbollah, our goal was to change the Middle East,” he said.

“We changed the Middle East for the better, cutting down the Iranian terror proxy network, pushing back the nuclear weapons threat that threaten Israel,” Netanyahu continued.

“We acted on it, and we acted on it together, and we changed the Middle East,” he added, underscoring cooperation between Israel and the Trump administration.

Looking ahead to peace initiatives

Despite the focus on military and strategic victories, Netanyahu said the next chapter would involve pursuing new peace opportunities in the region.

“Now we have opportunities for peace, which we should pursue,” he said. “And I intend to pursue it with the president.”