US President Donald Trump has acknowledged using profane language toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a telephone conversation about the escalating conflict in Lebanon. In an interview with the New York Post published on Wednesday, Trump was asked directly whether he had called Netanyahu “f***ing crazy” and told him, “I helped you stay out of jail.” Trump replied, “I did.”
The remarks offer a rare public glimpse into the tensions that have occasionally simmered between the two leaders, who have generally presented a cohesive alliance despite private disagreements. Trump said he was “a little bit perturbed at his constantly fighting with Lebanon” and urged Netanyahu to de-escalate. “I said, ‘Bibi, we gotta stop this,’” Trump told the newspaper’s podcast.
Context of the Call
The phone call, which took place on Sunday, came as Israel intensified its operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and threatened to strike the capital, Beirut. According to reports from Axios and ABC News, Trump was angered by the prospect of further escalation, fearing it could derail efforts to revive negotiations with Iran aimed at ending the broader regional conflict. The US has been pushing for a diplomatic settlement that would include a ceasefire in Lebanon and renewed talks with Tehran over its nuclear program.
During the call, Trump reportedly also said to Netanyahu, “I’m saving your a***. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.” Despite the heated exchange, Trump described the conversation as “very productive” and took to his Truth Social platform to emphasize that cooperation between Washington and Jerusalem remained intact. “We’ve worked very well together. I like Bibi a lot. And I work very well with him,” he said.
The incident highlights the delicate balance Trump is attempting to strike as he seeks to broker a wider Middle East peace. The US has been mediating between Israel and Hezbollah, with Trump claiming a ceasefire breakthrough earlier this month, though clashes have continued. The situation is further complicated by Iran’s threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for global oil supplies, which has already sent ripples through European markets.
For European capitals, the stability of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf is of direct concern. The EU has repeatedly called for restraint, and the United Nations has urged all parties to avoid a full-scale war. The prospect of a broader conflict involving Iran could disrupt energy supplies and trigger a new wave of migration, issues that resonate strongly in Brussels, Berlin, and Paris.
Trump’s blunt language with Netanyahu may also reflect a shift in US priorities. While the Trump administration has been a staunch ally of Israel, the president has shown a willingness to pressure Netanyahu when he perceives Israeli actions as undermining US strategic goals. This is not the first time the two have clashed; in 2020, Trump reportedly expressed frustration over Netanyahu’s annexation plans for the West Bank.
As the US continues its diplomatic push, the question remains whether the personal rapport between Trump and Netanyahu can withstand the pressures of wartime leadership. For now, both men are projecting unity, but the cracks are visible. The coming weeks will test whether Washington can broker a lasting ceasefire in Lebanon and revive talks with Iran, or whether the region slides into a wider conflagration that could draw in European allies.
