Trump has confronted Netanyahu, according to UN ambassador Mike Waltz.

Ambassador Mike Walz on U.S. Relations with Israel and Iran

In a recent interview on “Pod Force One,” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Walz discussed the dynamics between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting that Trump had, in some sense, given Netanyahu a “job” at one point.

Walz pushed back against claims made by former counterterrorism chief Joe Kent and others who allege that Netanyahu influenced Trump into going to war with Iran. He firmly stated that Trump was “in charge of the decision,” asserting, “I don’t think anyone should believe for a second that any world leader or advisor could walk into the Oval Office and push President Trump around.”

He emphasized that Trump was the one making the calls, saying, “Let me be clear: this is his call. And that’s not how it’s done. I was there when he handed Netanyahu the job. There’s no love lost when Netanyahu had to call the Qatari prime minister to apologize for the airstrike in downtown Qatar. We all saw that happen.”

Back in September, during a visit to the White House, Netanyahu expressed his “deep regret” to Qatar for the airstrike on September 9, 2025, which targeted Hamas leadership amidst ongoing hostage negotiations mediated by Qatar. Israel has often voiced concerns over Qatar hosting Hamas leaders.

While the attack reportedly failed to eliminate Hamas’s leadership, it did result in casualties, including the deaths of six individuals, one of whom was a Qatari security official.

Despite their close relationship, President Trump has occasionally criticized Netanyahu, notably for acknowledging Joe Biden’s 2020 victory and for not executing a plan to eliminate former Iranian General Qassim Suleimani.

Walz expressed admiration for America’s Gulf allies, commending them for their resilience in the face of sporadic Iranian attacks throughout Operation Epic Fury. He indicated that, despite previous conflicts among Gulf Arab nations, they are now “totally unified,” especially after a recent U.N. resolution condemning Iran’s actions.

Reflecting on Iran’s recent aggressive behavior, Walz speculated that their actions would ultimately backfire, especially given their shared economic ties with countries like Qatar. He noted, “Qatar has always tried to take a neutral stance, but with Iran’s attacks on various locations, it’s clear that Iran is now a declared enemy.”