Reprimands, Accusations, and Blame: Details of a Heated Call Between Trump and Netanyahu

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A highly tense phone conversation took place between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the ongoing escalation in Lebanon.

According to the American news outlet Axios, citing U.S. officials and a third source familiar with the discussion, President Trump sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel’s escalation in Lebanon during a profanity-laden phone call that took place on Monday.

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During the conversation, Trump reportedly described Netanyahu as “crazy” and accused him of being ungrateful, according to two sources. He also reportedly halted an Israeli plan to strike Beirut.

A U.S. official stated that Trump warned Netanyahu that carrying out threats to bomb the Lebanese capital would further isolate Israel on the international stage.

According to two sources, Trump also claimed that he had helped keep Netanyahu out of prison, referring to his support during Netanyahu’s corruption trial.

The U.S. official summarized Trump’s remarks as follows: “You’re completely crazy. Without me, you’d be in prison. I’m saving you. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.”

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The official explained that Trump understood that Hezbollah had been launching attacks against Israel and that Israel had the right to defend itself. However, he believed that Netanyahu had recently been escalating the situation in a disproportionate manner.

In addition to threats directed at Beirut, Israel has continued expanding its ground operations in southern Lebanon.

A second source familiar with the call stated that Trump was “furious” and at one point shouted at Netanyahu: “What the hell are you doing?”

Another U.S. official said that Trump was concerned about the large number of civilian casualties in Lebanon and objected to the Israeli practice of demolishing entire buildings in order to eliminate a single Hezbollah commander.

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An Israeli official told Axios that Israel was no longer planning to strike Hezbollah targets in Beirut.

Trump and Netanyahu have held several tense conversations in the past, although they continue to coordinate closely on Iran and other strategic issues.

One official described this exchange as among the worst conversations between Trump and Netanyahu since the American president returned to office.

Trump’s anger reportedly stemmed from his belief that Netanyahu’s decision to escalate military operations in Lebanon threatened to derail ongoing negotiations with Iran.

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Following the call, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social that talks with Iran were “continuing at a rapid pace.”

Afterward, Netanyahu released a statement saying that he had informed Trump that Israel would strike targets in Beirut if Hezbollah did not cease its attacks against Israel, while continuing operations in southern Lebanon in the meantime.

Netanyahu wrote: “Our position remains unchanged.”

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A second U.S. official stated that “Trump essentially crushed Netanyahu” during the call.

According to that official, Netanyahu ultimately responded: “Okay, okay, just make sure everything is taken care of.”

Sources cited by Axios indicate that a memorandum of understanding currently being negotiated between the United States and Iran calls for an end to the fighting in Lebanon. The proposed agreement had reportedly already been the subject of a previous tense conversation between Trump and Netanyahu.

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