Trump and Netanyahu share a complex, decades-long relationship, which has been marked by periods of strong public alignment and deep private tension. In the past, both leaders have had several tense calls but have still coordinated closely on Iran and other issues.
US President Donald Trump reportedly fumed over Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a heated phone call over Israel’s escalation in Lebanon, which threatens to jeopardise the ongoing peace talks with Iran to end the Middle East conflict. On the call, the US leader called Netanyahu “f***ing crazy” and accused him of ingratitude, according to a report by Axios.
Citing US officials and a third source briefed on the call, the American publication reported that Trump has also put the brakes on Israel’s plan to strike Beirut. He reportedly told the Israeli leader that the Israeli threats to bomb the Lebanese capital would further isolate Israel around the world.
Inside Trump-Netanyahu Call
Trump also claimed he had helped keep Netanyahu out of jail — a reference to his support during the Israeli leader’s corruption trial.
“You’re fucking crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this,” Trump told Netanyahu, according to the Axios report.
At one point, a source said Trump got “pissed” with Netanyahu and asked him, “What the fuck are you doing?”
Before the call, Trump reportedly knew Hezbollah, the Iranian proxy militia operating from Lebanon, had been shooting at Israel and that Tel Aviv needed to defend itself. But sources said that Trump felt, in recent days, Netanyahu was escalating in a disproportionate way.
Israel’s Military Ops In Lebanon
In addition to the threats on Beirut, Israel has been expanding its ground operation in southern Lebanon. Trump was reportedly angry over the fact that Netanyahu’s decision to escalate in Lebanon was threatening to implode his negotiations with Iran.
US sources told Axios that the president had been concerned about too many Lebanese civilians and had objected to the Israeli plan of knocking down buildings to take out a single Hezbollah commander.
After the call, an Israeli official told Axios that the Jewish state no longer plans to strike Hezbollah targets in Beirut.
This is not the first disagreement between the US and the Israeli leaders. Trump and Netanyahu share a complex, decades-long relationship, which has been marked by periods of strong public alignment and deep private tension. In the past, both leaders have had several tense calls but have still coordinated closely on Iran and other issues.
However, according to the Axios report, this was one of Trump’s worst calls with Netanyahu since he returned to office last year in January.
What Happened After The Call
After the phone call with Netanyahu, which he touted as “productive”, Trump said that no Israeli troops will head to Beirut.
“I had a conversation with Bibi Netanyahu today, asking him not to go into a major raid of Beirut, Lebanon. He turned his troops around. Thank you, Bibi!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The US leader added, “I also had a conversation with representatives of the leaders of Hezbollah, and they agreed to stop shooting at Israel and its soldiers. Likewise, Israel agreed to stop shooting at them. Let’s see how long that lasts — Hopefully it will be for ETERNITY!”
Later, Netanyahu also confirmed the conversation but cast it less as a restraint and more as a warning, saying he told Trump that Tel Aviv would strike targets in Beirut if Hezbollah’s attacks did not stop. The Israeli military will continue “to operate as planned” in southern Lebanon, Netanyahu added.
