Trump deletes tweet calling Palestinian leader’s visit ‘an honor’

President Trump on Thursday deleted a tweet posed a day earlier saying it was “an honor” to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House.

According to ProPublica’s “Politwoops,” which tracks tweets deleted by Trump, the social media post was removed 13 hours after it was initially posted. Trump met with Abbas on Wednesday and expressed confidence that his presidency would help ease tensions between the Israelis and Palestinians.

“An honor to host President Mahmoud Abbas at the WH today,” Trump wrote in the tweet. “Hopefully something terrific could come out of it between the Palestinians and Israel.”

{mosads}In a joint news conference with Abbas, Trump said that attaining peace in the bitter conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians may not be “as difficult as people have thought.”

It was not clear why the president deleted the tweet about his visit with Abbas. Trump typically posts about his meetings with foreign leaders on his Twitter account.

Trump’s professed confidence in his administration’s ability to make peace in the Middle East came as he is said to be considering moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem — a controversial decision that could complicate negotiations with the Palestinians.

While Israel asserts Jerusalem as its capital city, the international community overwhelmingly, including the U.S., recognizes Tel Aviv as the country’s official capital. Abbas has insisted on the creation of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.