Officials from the Trump administration have expressed concern over what they describe as the “trigger-happy actions” of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This statement comes despite President Trump’s favorable view of him, according to a recent report.
Netanyahu’s recent military actions, such as the bombing in Syria last week and the attack on churches in Gaza, have stirred unease among U.S. officials. Axios reported that these actions may be creating more volatility behind the scenes than previously understood.
“Bibi acts recklessly. He bombs everything in sight,” a White House official commented to the outlet, adding that this behavior could jeopardize President Trump’s efforts in the region.
In the midst of this, Trump had aimed to pivot U.S. relations with Syria, engaging with its new leader, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, to move past long-standing tensions. Despite Al-Sharaa’s connections to extremist groups, there was a push to give him a chance.
Back in May, Trump met with Al-Sharaa and initiated steps to lift sanctions against Syria. However, this is viewed as a highly delicate situation, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio warning of the potential for “a full-scale civil war” as unrest continues in that region.
Recently, Netanyahu authorized airstrikes on Syrian officials heading to Sweida, attempting to address violence caused by clashes between armed Bedouin tribes and Druze militias—groups that Israel has pledged to protect.
The Syrian government contends it is working to restore order, while blaming Israel for its own military actions against the Druze. Israel has faced backlash for demanding that the Syrian government be condemned beyond its southern borders.
The U.S. envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, reportedly urged Israel to deescalate, but shortly thereafter, airstrikes continued, including near the Syrian Presidential Palace.
Al-Sharaa has shown restraint, not retaliating against Israel and even pulling back troops from southern Syria.
These bombings have caught both the President and the White House off guard. “He doesn’t want to see that kind of violence in a country trying for peace,” officials remarked.
As of now, a ceasefire remains in place, although Rubio has asked Israel to halt its operations in Syria, drawing complaints from U.S. allies like Turkey and Saudi Arabia regarding Israel’s actions.
The Israeli strikes were launched shortly after Netanyahu’s visit to the U.S., where he received a warm reception and even proposed Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Some Trump administration officials, including Barrack and envoy Steve Witkoff, have voiced concerns about Netanyahu’s aggressive tactics, suspecting they may be driven by domestic political factors.
“The Israelis need to get their act together,” officials conveyed.
The situation in Syria is just part of a broader tension; a recent attack on a Catholic church in Gaza left three dead and ten injured. Trump reached out to Netanyahu for an explanation shortly after the incident, with Israel later expressing regret for the attack.
“Every day brings something new—it’s bewildering,” one disillusioned U.S. official remarked to Axios.
Another U.S. official noted, “It seems Netanyahu’s actions can be quite childish at times.”
The tension is compounded by the killing of Palestinian-American Saihumus Sayrett by Israeli settlers, a move denounced by Israeli Ambassador Mike Huckabee as acts of “terrorism.”
Huckabee, a staunch Israel supporter, even attended Netanyahu’s trial over corruption allegations.
Last month, concerns emerged about the White House’s discomfort after Israel launched a preemptive strike against Iran during negotiations involving U.S. interests.
Rubio had initially proposed a statement acknowledging the strikes while stopping short of endorsing them. Meanwhile, Trump approved an airstrike against Iran’s nuclear facility.
Past U.S. administrations, including those of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, have encountered similar frustrations with Netanyahu, often viewing him as overly hawkish.
Throughout the 2024 election cycle, Trump has subtly critiqued Netanyahu as he responds to the situation with Hamas and the recent military actions.
Trump has also expressed frustrations over assurances he made regarding U.S. military responses when Netanyahu acted against Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, noting that Netanyahu later backtracked.
Despite underlying tensions, both leaders have seemingly managed to maintain their relationship without public criticism. The White House declined to comment further on the matter.
