Trump Confirms Calling Netanyahu ‘Crazy’

US President Donald Trump has acknowledged calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ‘crazy’ during a phone conversation amid tensions over the war in Lebanon, as Washington sought to broker an agreement to end the conflict involving Iran.

In an interview broadcast on Wednesday, Trump was asked whether he had used the term and accused Netanyahu of ingratitude. The question was based on a report by Axios.

Responding on the ‘Pod Force One’ podcast, Trump said, “I did. I wouldn't say angry. I was a little bit perturbed at his constantly fighting with Lebanon, you know.”

Trump later said that he and Netanyahu maintain a very good relationship.

According to an Axios report citing a U.S. official, Trump told Netanyahu during a phone call on Monday that he had become ‘crazy’ and warned that public opinion had turned against both him and Israel.

In the interview, Trump also said, “At some point, I said, Bibi, we got to stop this. We got to stop it.”

Israeli officials did not publicly comment on the phone call after the Axios report was published. Israeli media reports, citing various sources, sought to downplay suggestions of tension between the two leaders. Netanyahu’s office also declined to comment after Trump confirmed making the remarks.

Iran has said it will not agree to any U.S.-brokered arrangement to end the conflict that Trump and Netanyahu launched in late February unless Lebanon is included in the ceasefire framework. Israel began military operations in Lebanon in March, targeting the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, which had been carrying out cross-border attacks in support of Tehran.

Although a U.S.-mediated understanding was announced on Monday, hostilities have not completely ceased. Following the agreement, Israel refrained from carrying out strikes in Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut, while Hezbollah agreed to halt cross-border attacks.

Nevertheless, Lebanese security sources said Israeli drone strikes in southern Lebanon killed at least six people on Wednesday. Israel, meanwhile, said it had intercepted what it described as a hostile aircraft believed to have been launched by Hezbollah.

Trump has previously used unusually blunt language when discussing Israel. Last year, he said that Israel and Iran “don't know what the hell they're doing.”
Source: Reuters (adaptive)