Several senior advisers to Trump believe Washington could find it easier to pursue its regional agenda under an Israeli government without Netanyahu, according to an Axios report, exposing growing friction between the two leaders despite Trump’s public endorsement of Netanyahu ahead of Tuesday’s election.

The report said dissatisfaction with Netanyahu has intensified within Trump’s inner circle over the past six months, particularly following the war with Iran and disagreements over Washington’s broader Middle East priorities.

At the center of the rift are concerns that Netanyahu’s decisions and pre-war assessments regarding Iran have complicated US regional objectives, with Vice President JD Vance among the senior officials reportedly disillusioned with the Israeli premier.

Vance declined to endorse Netanyahu when asked about the election, saying Trump’s position was what mattered.

Beyond Iran, disagreements have extended to Gaza, Syria, Lebanon and the occupied West Bank, where Israeli military operations, the genocide in Gaza and attacks by illegal Israeli settlers have added to tensions over the Israeli regime’s regional policies.

Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have reportedly grown frustrated with delays in implementing the US president’s so-called Gaza peace plan, while envoy Tom Barrack has raised concerns about Israeli attacks in Syria.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s team believes Israel could do more to strengthen Lebanon’s government, underscoring broader differences over how Washington expects its regional ally to advance US diplomatic priorities.

Despite the growing friction, Trump endorsed Netanyahu on Sunday, suggesting that a defeat for the Israeli prime minister could have implications for US-Israeli relations.

However, some Trump advisers reportedly believe a government without Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners could give Washington greater room to pursue diplomatic agreements across the region, highlighting the gap between Trump’s public support for Netanyahu and private concerns within his administration.

Against this backdrop of mounting diplomatic tensions, Netanyahu has also warned that Israel must prepare for a future without US military assistance worth tens of billions of dollars, describing such a prospect as "only a matter of time".

Speaking to Channel 10 days before the closely contested election, Netanyahu said he had ordered preparations for potential economic and banking sanctions, including the exploration of alternative financial technologies.

He also suggested that Israel might need to develop an alternative digital economy to circumvent mounting international sanctions, reflecting concerns over Israel’s long-term economic exposure to external pressure.

Netanyahu faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant and ongoing corruption proceedings, adding to the political and diplomatic challenges confronting the Israeli prime minister as tensions with Washington persist.