U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly becoming increasingly frustrated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Lebanon.
According to reports, the two leaders engaged in one of their most heated exchanges since Trump’s return to office. During a phone conversation on Monday, Trump allegedly challenged Netanyahu over Israel’s continued military operations in Lebanon, fearing the actions could jeopardize ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Iran after Tehran reportedly threatened to pull out of talks because of Israel’s conduct.
After the call, Trump wrote on Truth Social that negotiations surrounding an Iran truce, which reportedly include efforts to end hostilities in Lebanon, were “continuing, at a rapid pace,” while indicating that Israel had suspended operations in Beirut.
Trump and Netanyahu have remained in close contact since the launch of joint military operations against Iran, a development that also intensified clashes between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah.
Earlier on Monday, Netanyahu declared that Israeli forces would continue military operations in southern Lebanon. The statement followed strikes on the outskirts of Beirut, which Israel said were carried out in response to Hezbollah rocket attacks targeting northern Israel, including areas near Haifa.
U.S. officials familiar with the phone call told Axios that an angry Trump resorted to personal attacks as his frustration with Netanyahu grew. According to the sources, Trump told the Israeli leader: “You’re f—— crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your a–,” after first asking, “What the f— are you doing?”
The officials further said Trump remarked, “Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this,” while summarizing the tone of the discussion.
One source explained that although Trump understood Israel’s desire to retaliate against Hezbollah attacks, he felt the military response had gone too far, particularly because of civilian casualties and extensive damage caused during efforts to target a Hezbollah commander.
Another U.S. official described the exchange by saying Trump “steamrolled” Netanyahu. According to the official, “Bibi said, ‘OK, OK, just make sure everything is taken care of.'”
Following the conversation, Netanyahu stated on X that Israel’s stance “remains unchanged,” insisting that the Israel Defense Forces “will continue to operate as planned in southern Lebanon… if Hezbollah does not cease attacking our cities and citizens.”
However, an Israeli official told Axios that Netanyahu later shelved plans for additional strikes against Hezbollah targets in Beirut.
In a post on X, Netanyahu wrote: “Tonight, I spoke with President Trump and told him that if Hezbollah does not cease attacking our cities and citizens-Israel will attack terror targets in Beirut. This stance of ours remains unchanged. In parallel, the IDF will continue to operate as planned in southern Lebanon.”
Trump, meanwhile, described the discussion as “very productive” and suggested that further Israeli strikes on Beirut would not proceed.
“I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, and there will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He also claimed progress had been made with Hezbollah, writing: “Likewise, through highly placed Representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop – That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel.”
Commenting on the reported understanding, Trump added: “Let’s see how long that lasts – Hopefully it will be for ETERNITY!”
