President Donald Trump used expletives and called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “f***ing crazy” during a telephone conversation on Monday [1].
The exchange highlights a sharp rift between the two leaders over military strategy in Lebanon and the stability of U.S. diplomatic efforts regarding Iran.
Trump urged Netanyahu to scale back planned Israeli military operations in Lebanon [1]. The president said these offensive actions could jeopardize efforts by his administration to broker a preliminary nuclear agreement with Iran [1, 3].
During the call, Trump told Netanyahu, "You're f***ing crazy" [2]. He further told the Israeli leader, "I'm saving your ass" [2]. Netanyahu responded to the remarks by saying, "Ok, Ok" [2].
Two people familiar with the conversation provided the details of the exchange [1]. The call took place between the White House and the Israeli prime minister’s office [1].
Trump's frustration centered on the belief that the planned Lebanon operation would upend the push for the Iran deal [1, 3]. The conversation reportedly included claims that Netanyahu's actions had made others hate Israel [2].
“"You're f***ing crazy"”
This confrontation signals a significant tension in the US-Israel relationship, where the Trump administration's priority of securing a preliminary nuclear deal with Iran is clashing with Israel's immediate security objectives in Lebanon. The use of blunt, profane language suggests a breakdown in diplomatic decorum, reflecting a transactional approach to the alliance where the US may pressure allies to align with specific White House foreign policy goals.
