It is in neither country's interest to be seen as the other's pawn. And a tougher US stance toward its ally might force the Israelis to try harder to come to terms with the Palestinians.

Part of what he's doing that makes it feel like a reality show is that he is feeding you something every night, said Brent Montgomery, chief executive of Wheelhouse Entertainment and the creator of Pawn Stars, about the Trump show's rotating cast and daily plot twists (picking a fight with the N.F.L., praising Kim Jong un).