Trump Asks Netanyahu to 'Hold Back on Settlements for a Little Bit'

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.

The two leaders addressed reporters and then answered questions. Trump called on CBN's David Brody first. 

Brody: Mr. President and Prime Minister Netanyahu, both of you have criticized the Iran nuclear deal, even calling for its repeal.  Are you concerned that the current absence of a permanent national security advisor now that Michael Flynn is out, combined with news events over communication with Russia might hamper your efforts in limiting the impact of this deal and keeping Iran from being a nuclear state? And secondly, on the settlement issue, are you both on the same page?

Trump: Michael Flynn, General Flynn is a wonderful man. I think he's been treated very, very unfairly by the media -- as I call it, the "fake media" in many cases -- and I think it's really a sad thing that he was treated so badly. 

I think in addition to that, from intelligence, papers are being leaked, things are being leaked. It's criminal action, criminal act and it's been going on for a long time, before me, but now it's really going on and people are trying to cover up for a terrible loss that the Democrats had under Hillary Clinton. I think it's very, very unfair what's happening to General Flynn, the way he was treated and the documents that were illegally -- I stress that -- illegally leaked. Very, very unfair. 

As far as settlements, I'd like to see you (Netanyahu) hold back on settlements for a little bit. We'll work something out, but I would like to see a deal be made. I think a deal will be made… Bibi and I have known each other a long time -- a smart man, great negotiator -- and I think we're going to make a deal. It might be a bigger and better deal than people in this room even understand. That's a possibility so let's see what we do.

Netanyahu: Let's try.

Trump: Doesn't sound too optimistic, but that's okay. He's a good negotiator.

Netanyahu: That's the art of the deal.