President Donald Trump (R-US) held a profanity-laden phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss military actions in Lebanon [1, 2].
The exchange signals a significant shift in the diplomatic tone between the U.S. and its closest ally as the administration seeks to halt an escalation on the Lebanon border [4, 5].
Sources described the conversation as explosive, reporting that Trump used expletives and accused Netanyahu of being ungrateful [1, 3]. During the call, Trump said, "Everybody hates Israel" [2]. Other reports suggest the phrasing may have been "Everybody hates you now" [1].
The discussion focused on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Following the call, Trump said that Hezbollah and Israel agree to stop fighting [4]. This agreement aims to de-escalate the fighting, and prevent a wider regional war [5].
Trump also addressed the movement of military forces within Lebanon. He said that no Israeli troops will go to Beirut [6]. This restriction comes as a condition to ensure the conflict does not expand further into Lebanese urban centers [6].
The call took place this week between the White House in Washington, D.C., and the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem [4, 6]. The administration's approach combines aggressive personal rhetoric with a firm demand for a cease-fire to stabilize the border region [5].
“"Everybody hates Israel"”
The use of profanity and accusations of ingratitude suggests a fraying of the personal relationship between Trump and Netanyahu. By explicitly forbidding troop movements into Beirut and announcing a cease-fire, the U.S. is asserting direct control over Israeli military objectives to prevent a full-scale war with Hezbollah.
