U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly acknowledged calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “crazy” during a heated phone conversation over Israel’s military operations in Lebanon, revealing fresh tensions between the two longtime allies.
Speaking on the Pod Force One podcast, Trump confirmed reports that he had used strong language while expressing frustration over the ongoing conflict in Lebanon, which has complicated Washington’s efforts to negotiate a broader agreement involving Iran.
“I did,” Trump said when asked whether he had referred to Netanyahu as “effing crazy.” He added that he was not angry but was “a little bit perturbed” by Israel’s continued military actions in Lebanon.
According to an earlier Axios report, Trump allegedly delivered a blistering message to the Israeli leader during a phone call on Monday, warning him that the ongoing conflict was damaging Israel’s international standing. Trump also reportedly urged Netanyahu to stop the fighting immediately.
Despite the reported exchange, Trump insisted that he and Netanyahu still maintain a strong relationship. He said the two leaders continue to work together despite occasional disagreements over strategy and military operations.
Netanyahu, when questioned about the report, declined to discuss details of the conversation but downplayed any suggestion of a rift. Speaking in an interview, he described Trump as one of Israel’s strongest allies and said disagreements between them were merely tactical differences.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions across the Middle East, where efforts to secure a wider ceasefire have become increasingly complicated. Iran has reportedly maintained that any agreement with the United States must also include a halt to hostilities in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, clashes have continued despite a U.S.-brokered arrangement announced earlier this week. Reports from Lebanon indicated that Israeli drone strikes killed several people in the country’s south, while Israel said it intercepted a hostile aircraft believed to have been launched by the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.
Trump also rejected suggestions that Netanyahu had influenced him into taking military action against Iran, insisting that the decision was his own. He defended his hardline stance against Tehran and reiterated his belief that Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.
The latest revelations offer a rare glimpse into the private conversations between two of the world’s most influential leaders and underscore the growing pressures surrounding the conflicts involving Israel, Lebanon and Iran.
