In a sweeping foreign policy overhaul, President Donald Trump is removing key pro-Israel hardliners from his administration, signaling a pivot away from Washington’s traditional alignment with Tel Aviv and toward a more independent “America First” approach in the Middle East.
According to reports, Trump has already begun cleaning house at the National Security Council (NSC), ousting figures such as Eric Trager, Merav Ceren, and Morgan Ortagus. All were known for their aggressive stances on Iran and close ties to Israeli defense interests. The purge follows Trump’s high-stakes diplomatic trip through Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar — a visit that notably excluded Israel.
The move is being interpreted by insiders as a direct rebuke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has reportedly been pressuring Washington for military escalation against Iran. Trump, however, appears to have different plans.
Former NSC advisor Mike Waltz — allegedly involved in backchannel planning with Netanyahu on a potential preemptive strike against Tehran — has also been reassigned, now serving as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. His ouster marked one of the first signs that Trump was reclaiming control over Mideast policy from foreign-aligned factions within his own team.
Merav Ceren’s removal raised eyebrows, particularly due to her ties to Israel’s Ministry of Defense and the neoconservative think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). Ceren was widely seen as a key conduit for Israeli defense interests in Washington. Her exit signals a deliberate shift in priorities.
Likewise, Eric Trager — a vocal Iran hawk and critic of Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood — has been pushed out as Trump attempts to pivot toward a more diplomatic, regionally balanced strategy.
Morgan Ortagus, another key figure in the former policy structure, reportedly lost her grip on the Syria portfolio after alienating officials in Beirut. Her trip to Lebanon, where she praised Israel for “defeating” Hezbollah, sparked backlash and may have sealed her fate.
Sources say Trump is now placing loyalists and anti-interventionists into the vacuum, including voices aligned with Vice President JD Vance. This move, they say, will shrink the bloated NSC and centralize decision-making within Trump’s trusted inner circle.
Tucker Carlson, who has repeatedly warned about foreign influence on U.S. foreign policy, highlighted the growing tension with Israeli hardliners this week. “Mark Levin was at the White House today, lobbying for war with Iran,” Carlson posted on X. “He has no plans to fight in this or any other war. He’s demanding that American troops do it.”
The internal rift has also been fueled by Trump’s recent outreach to Syria and his push to revisit nuclear talks with Iran — both policies strongly opposed by the Netanyahu government.
Despite rumors of a U.S.-Iran deal allowing low-level uranium enrichment, Trump quickly denied any agreement, illustrating the ongoing battle between hawkish factions and a resurgent Trump loyalist camp inside the administration.
The broader message is clear: Trump no longer wants America’s Middle East policy dictated by outside interests or old alliances. The hardline era may be over — and the art of the deal is back in play.
