President Trump unloaded on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a heated Monday phone call, using expletives to blast his escalating military operations in Lebanon and warning him that the campaign was isolating Israel globally.
Two U.S. officials and a third person with knowledge of the conversation described Trump as furious over Netanyahu's expansion into Lebanon. Trump told Netanyahu that pressing ahead with threats to bomb Beirut would damage Israel's standing with the international community, according to the accounts.
Trump invoked his past support for Netanyahu during the Israeli leader's corruption trial, saying he had kept him out of prison. "You're fucking crazy. You'd be in prison if it weren't for me. I'm saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this," Trump told Netanyahu, one official recounted.
A second source said Trump became exasperated at points, yelling "What the fuck are you doing?" at Netanyahu during the call.
The immediate trigger
Trump acknowledged that Israel faced legitimate security threats from Hezbollah attacks but believed Netanyahu was responding in a disproportionate manner. He objected in particular to civilian casualties and the demolition of buildings to target individual Hezbollah commanders, according to U.S. officials.
The escalating tensions coincided with Iran threatening to walk away from ongoing negotiations with the U.S., citing Israel's Lebanon operations. Trump's anger appeared tied directly to concerns that Netanyahu's military campaign could torpedo those talks altogether.
An Israeli official confirmed that Israel no longer plans to conduct strikes against Hezbollah targets in Beirut following the call, though Netanyahu issued a statement reaffirming his right to attack the Lebanese capital if Hezbollah does not cease fire. Netanyahu said Israel would continue ground operations in southern Lebanon regardless.
"Our position remains the same," Netanyahu wrote in his statement.
One official claimed Trump effectively silenced Netanyahu during the conversation. "Bibi said, 'OK, OK, just make sure everything is taken care of,'" the official said, suggesting the Israeli prime minister backed down under pressure.
This ranks among Trump's worst calls with Netanyahu since returning to office, according to one U.S. official. The two have clashed before but have typically coordinated on Iran strategy and other major issues.
The U.S. and Iran are currently negotiating a memorandum that would require an end to fighting in Lebanon, sources said. That framework appears to be what Trump was trying to protect from collapse through his confrontation with Netanyahu.
Trump posted on Truth Social after the call that Iran negotiations were "continuing, at a rapid pace."
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump's willingness to directly confront Netanyahu over Lebanon strategy signals a fundamental shift in how he's balancing Israeli security interests against his own diplomatic priorities."
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