White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, D.C. The two leaders discussed the tragedy and ongoing efforts to combat antisemitic violence.
.@PressSec on the brutal murder of two @IsraelinUSA staffers in Washington, D.C.: "The evil of anti-Semitism must be eradicated from our society ... Everyone here at the White House is praying for the victims' friends and family during this unimaginable time." pic.twitter.com/OzFX4U9wQB
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 22, 2025
Leavitt, addressing reporters, said the president has directed the Department of Justice to prosecute the perpetrator “to the full extent of the law.” She added, “The evil of antisemitism must be eradicated from our society. Everyone here at the White House is praying for the victims’ friends and family during this unimaginable time.”
She also said Trump and Netanyahu exchanged views on Iran, with Trump expressing optimism that "things are moving in the right direction." Separately, Reuters reports that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Rome on Friday for a fifth round of indirect and direct nuclear talks with Iranian officials. Witkoff will be joined by senior State Department adviser Michael Anton.
