Flashback: Trump’s row with Zelenskyy recalls Obama, Biden humiliations of Netanyahu

Democratic lawmakers’ reactions to the recent public conflict between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy have sparked controversy and criticism. However, comparisons to how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was treated by former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama have raised concerns about double standards.

During the Obama and Biden administrations, Netanyahu faced public humiliation and criticism from European leaders and the media. Dan Diker, President of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, pointed out the lack of sympathy for Israel and Netanyahu during this time, contrasting it with the immediate international support for Zelenskyy.

The treatment of Zelenskyy and Netanyahu highlights the disparities in how the two leaders were perceived. Despite both countries facing existential threats, the outrage over the White House’s confrontation with Zelenskyy did not match the criticism directed at Netanyahu during his interactions with Biden and Obama.

Biden’s comments about Netanyahu, including calling him a “f—ing liar” and a “pain in my a–,” exposed the strained relationship between the two leaders. Obama also had a contentious relationship with Netanyahu, refusing to pose for photographs with him during a White House visit and delegitimizing his leadership.

The Obama administration’s actions, such as allowing the UN Security Council to censure Israel in 2016, further strained US-Israel relations. Netanyahu’s speeches to Congress in 2015 and 2024 defending Israel’s actions against Iran-backed threats also drew criticism from the Obama and Biden administrations.

Eugene Kontorovich, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, highlighted the Democrats’ frustration with Netanyahu’s differing policies from Obama. He compared Zelenskyy’s confrontational approach with Trump and Vance to Netanyahu’s challenges with Obama and Biden, noting that Trump has shown a willingness to reengage.

The treatment of Netanyahu and Zelenskyy raises questions about double standards in international diplomacy and media coverage. The lack of solidarity for Netanyahu during his interactions with Obama and Biden contrasts with the support shown for Zelenskyy, highlighting the complex dynamics of global politics and leadership.