A meeting between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not currently on the agenda during Netanyahu's upcoming visit to the United States, a senior US official told The Jerusalem Post on Saturday, with the latest schedules placing the two leaders in New York at different times.
Netanyahu's presence in New York is expected to be "quite limited," the official said, noting that under the most recent schedule available to the administration, the prime minister is not due to arrive until after Trump has already left.
"The latest scheduling that I've seen, he will be here after the president leaves," the official said when asked directly whether Netanyahu was seeking a meeting with Trump.
Netanyahu's UN General Assembly address is expected later in the week, the official added, while Trump is set to arrive in New York on Monday and depart Tuesday evening.
The official declined to say whether Netanyahu or members of his team had formally requested a meeting, citing a policy against discussing requests submitted to the White House. In practical terms, however, the current schedule leaves no overlap between the two leaders' time in the city.
The UN's 81st General Debate runs September 22–28 at UN headquarters in New York.
Iran, Gaza at center of Trump's UN agenda
Even without a Netanyahu meeting, Israel and the Middle East are expected to feature prominently across Trump's UN visit.
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said Trump plans to stress in his General Assembly address that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon, while also highlighting what the administration views as progress under the president's 20-point Gaza peace plan.
Iran is also expected to loom large in Trump's multilateral meeting with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council. A senior US official said Tehran would be "a key topic of conversation and diplomacy" throughout the week.
The administration believes pressure on Iran continues to mount, the official said, arguing that Tehran's leverage over the Strait of Hormuz is diminishing as alternative infrastructure and bypass routes come online, compounded by US military and economic pressure. "In one way or another," the official said, Washington expects the Iranian regime to abandon its pursuit of a nuclear weapon.
Officials added that US sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong entities accused of helping Iran generate revenue - including through oil-related activity - would continue.
Waltz also tied the UN gathering to Gaza, calling the annual session an unusually valuable diplomatic opportunity given the concentration of world leaders in one place.
Trump's publicly announced Tuesday schedule includes bilateral meetings with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a sit-down with GCC leaders, and a reception for world leaders - but no meeting with Netanyahu. AP separately reported the planned meetings with Burnham, Takaichi and the Gulf leaders.
From New York to Xi Jinping meeting
Immediately after Trump's UN appearance, the diplomatic spotlight shifts to Washington, where the president is set to host Chinese President Xi Jinping for a three-day visit.
On Wednesday, Trump is scheduled to greet Xi and his wife at Joint Base Andrews. The following day, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are expected to formally welcome the Chinese couple to the White House; after an arrival ceremony, the two leaders will review a military ceremony in the Rose Garden before holding bilateral talks. That evening, the president and first lady will host the Chinese delegation for a state dinner in the East Room.
On Friday, the two couples are expected to hold a private tea at the White House before visiting the National Archives to view founding US documents as the country marks its 250th anniversary.
The visit follows Trump's meeting with Xi in China in May; Trump had previously announced Xi's US visit for September 24.
Several of the most sensitive issues in US-China relations are expected to be on the table. A senior White House official confirmed that artificial intelligence and the current US-China trade truce will be discussed, alongside trade, AI, and rare-earth exports - all expected to feature prominently in preparatory talks between senior US and Chinese officials.
The administration also intends to press China over precursor chemicals used in fentanyl production, rare-earth supplies, and the terms under which Chinese investment can enter the United States. The White House made clear it does not intend to trade away US export controls in exchange for rare earths it believes Beijing has already committed to supply - though officials confirmed discussions have taken place over possible tariff reductions on a "narrow band" of non-sensitive, non-strategic goods.
Musk, Bezos, Altman, Cook in the same room
The state dinner's guest list is expected to draw nearly as much attention as the summit itself.
A senior White House official said expected attendees include Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Michael Dell, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser and Apple CEO Tim Cook, alongside senior administration officials. "It'll be a very popular and hot-ticketed event here in Washington, DC," the official said.
Several major tech executives are indeed expected to attend, while Reuters has reported that Xi may bring a substantial Chinese business delegation of his own.
Within the span of a few days, then, Trump will pivot from Iran, Gaza and the Gulf in the corridors of the United Nations to America's most consequential strategic rivalry - with China, trade, artificial intelligence and Iran all converging on the White House agenda.