President Donald Trump recently acknowledged that he referred to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “fucking crazy” during a tense phone conversation regarding Israel’s military actions in Lebanon. This revelation indicates a rare moment of discord between the two leaders, who have historically been seen as close allies.
This was confirmed on the podcast “Pod Force One” when Miranda Devine from the New York Post asked Trump about the claim. He simply replied, “I did.”
The disagreement appears to stem from Israel’s increased military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israeli officials have stated that their focus is on dismantling Hezbollah’s infrastructure, especially since the Iranian-supported group has continued its rocket and drone attacks on Israel, despite ongoing ceasefire attempts.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that Lebanese officials had suggested Hezbollah might stop its missile attacks if Israel halted its actions in Beirut. However, this potential ceasefire quickly deteriorated when Hezbollah launched more rockets into Israel, claiming the ceasefire wasn’t in place yet. As a result, Israel resumed its offensive against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.
Interestingly, while these two issues—Israeli military operations and U.S.-Iran negotiations—might seem separate, Iranian officials have made it clear that they see a connection between the two. They’ve warned that continued Israeli actions could threaten diplomatic conversations with the U.S., emphasizing the need for overall regional stability.
Trump expressed some frustration about Netanyahu’s continuous conflict with Lebanon, stating that he urged, “Bibi, we have to stop this.” However, he also mentioned his regard for Netanyahu, saying, “I really love Bibi and do a great job with him.” This part of the conversation was highlighted by Axios.
After the call, Trump stated that he believed his intervention prevented a larger Israeli operation in Lebanon. He later took to Truth Social, mentioning that while Israeli troops were preparing to enter Beirut, they had turned back following their discussion.
Some Israeli officials have since suggested that Netanyahu defy Trump and continue military actions in Lebanon. National Security Minister Ben Gvir even commented that it might be time for a more aggressive stance against Hezbollah, insisting on the need to restore security in the north.
During a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, some lawmakers questioned Rubio about the telephone call, expressing concerns that Israel’s ongoing military actions against Hezbollah could undermine U.S. negotiations with Iran. Rubio indicated that multiple warnings had been received about Israel’s intentions to target Hezbollah, but noted that just after the proposed opening for a pause, Hezbollah resumed its rocket attacks.
Rubio defended Israel’s operations, characterizing them as defensive measures to prevent further attacks on Israeli civilians. He described these actions as a necessity for Israel’s security, especially given the threat posed to northern towns from Hezbollah’s positions.
This phone call occurred amid Iranian threats to withdraw from current diplomatic discussions with the U.S. as a result of the ongoing military operations in Lebanon—an evolving situation that could hinder broader negotiations.
Trump has been pressuring Israel to moderate its military responses to Hezbollah, advocating for a strategic approach to maintain stability in the region.
