WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump reportedly lashed out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call earlier today, calling him “crazy” as he urged Israel to agree to a ceasefire with Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Trump also reportedly told Netanyahu that he owed him for keeping him out of jail.
Israel has been expanding its ground operations in southern Lebanon and has threatened to strike Beirut. Meanwhile, Iran has warned that it could abandon negotiations with the United States over Israel’s actions in Lebanon.
According to the American news website Axios, Trump accused Netanyahu of being ungrateful during the call and opposed Israel’s reported plans to attack Beirut.
Trump reportedly told Netanyahu: “You’re crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving you. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.”
He also warned that carrying out threats to bomb the Lebanese capital would further isolate Israel internationally.
US officials told Axios that Trump believes the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have acted disproportionately in Lebanon in recent days, potentially undermining Washington’s efforts to secure an extension of the ceasefire, which Iran has tied to a broader truce in Lebanon.
According to the report, Trump at one point shouted at Netanyahu, saying, “What the hell are you doing?”
One US official said Trump “steamrolled” Netanyahu during the call, adding that “Bibi said, ‘OK, OK, just make sure everything is taken care of.’”
Iranian state media also said a ceasefire could collapse if Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue.
US officials further said Trump reminded Netanyahu that he had previously sought to keep him out of prison — an apparent reference to Trump’s repeated public calls for President Isaac Herzog to pardon the Israeli leader, who is currently facing a corruption trial.
Another US official said Trump was troubled by the high civilian death toll in Lebanon and objected to Israeli strikes that destroyed buildings to target a single Hezbollah commander.
One official described the conversation as one of the most intense exchanges between Trump and Netanyahu since Trump returned to office.
Netanyahu’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
