Trump meets separately with Netanyahu and Zelenskyy in Washington ahead of Sen. Graham's funeral

The back-to-back White House meetings came as both the Ukraine and Iran conflicts reached what multiple outlets described as critical stages, and as both foreign leaders sought to manage their individual relationships with Trump ahead of midterm elections this November. Security around the White House was tightened, with vehicular traffic blocked at key intersections; Netanyahu stayed at Blair House, the U.S. government's guest house across Pennsylvania Avenue.

Sen. Lindsey Graham's death and funeral served as the occasion drawing both leaders to Washington. NPR reported that Graham had been a tenacious advocate for Israel and Ukraine and that his passing leaves a significant void, with few political leaders able to match his level of support for either country. Both Zelenskyy and Netanyahu will now need to make their own cases directly to Trump, according to NPR's reporting citing foreign policy analyst Richard Fontaine, who served in the White House under President George W. Bush.

The Trump-Netanyahu meeting carried added weight given strains that have developed in their relationship since the Iran war began. The Associated Press reported that Netanyahu is up for reelection and that his deteriorating relationship with Trump has become a domestic political liability. Trump, when asked Monday by reporters whether he and Netanyahu were aligned on Iran, said, "We have a little difference. But pretty close, yeah." The White House said the two also planned to discuss a framework agreement covering Israeli forces' withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the expansion of the Abraham Accords.