Donald Trump
‘Without Me, Israel Would Not Exist Now’
Photo: Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that Israel would not exist without him and defended his past actions on Iran and Israel policy in a podcast interview aired Wednesday.
In the interview, Trump was asked whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had “trapped” him into supporting strikes on Iran. He also faced questions over whether he had called the Israeli leader “effing crazy” and accused him of ingratitude, as reported by Axios.
“I did,” Trump told the ‘Pod Force One’ podcast. “I wouldn’t say angry. I was a little bit perturbed at his constantly fighting with Lebanon.”
Trump added that he and Netanyahu maintain a very good relationship.
He also said, “I started it because we cannot allow them to have nuclear weapons.”
Trump further stated, “It also applies to Israel, because they would have probably taken the first hit. There would have been no Israel. I am telling you, without me, Israel would not exist now.”
He claimed that the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, signed under former President Barack Obama and world leaders, was not in Israel’s interest.
Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement in 2018 during his first term. Since then, Iran has built up a stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which Trump now says must be abandoned.
Critics argue Iran is now closer to developing nuclear weapons and say it would be more difficult for Trump to negotiate a better deal.
On the “Pod Force One” podcast, Trump also said he had called Netanyahu “crazy” in frustration, but later emphasized that their relationship remains strong.
At another point in the interview, Trump said: “At some point, I said, Bibi, we got to stop this. We got to stop it.”
Separately, according to Axios, citing an unidentified U.S. official, Trump allegedly told Netanyahu in a Monday phone call, “You’re fucking crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.”
Trump also claimed in the interview that Iran has agreed not to develop nuclear weapons.
Source: Reuters (adaptive)
