Axios news site reported on 1/6, citing two US officials and a source familiar with the matter, that US President Donald Trump criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "crazy" and "ungrateful" during their phone call about Lebanon.
"You're crazy. Without me, you'd be in jail right now. I'm saving you. Now everyone hates you and Israel because of this," the White House chief said.
According to the source, President Trump mentioned his repeated public calls for Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is currently facing a lengthy trial related to corruption charges.
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US President Donald Trump (left) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in 9/2025. Photo: AP |
US officials said Trump understood that Hezbollah continuously launched rockets into Israel and Tel Aviv had the right to retaliate. However, the US president believed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) military response in recent days was excessive, harming Washington's efforts to reach a long-term ceasefire agreement with Iran. Tehran had conditioned a peace agreement on a ceasefire in Lebanon.
A US official said Trump completely dominated Netanyahu during the phone call. "Bibi said, 'Alright, alright, just make sure everything is settled properly'," the source quoted the Israeli prime minister, using his nickname.
The White House and Prime Minister Netanyahu's office have not yet commented on this information.
Israel and Hezbollah have been clashing since 10/2023, despite a ceasefire agreement effective from 11/2024. Prime Minister Netanyahu on 1/6 ordered the IDF to attack Hezbollah targets in the Dahiyeh district of Beirut, the capital.
Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, accused Israel's attacks on Lebanon of violating the ceasefire agreement Washington and Tehran reached on 8/4.
"The ceasefire agreement between Iran and the US is clearly effective on all fronts, including in Lebanon. A violation on one front means a violation on all fronts. The US and Israel must bear responsibility for the consequences," Araghchi posted on X.
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Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike on Tyre, southern Lebanon, on 1/6. Photo: AFP |
After the phone call with Netanyahu, Trump announced that Israeli soldiers would not advance to Beirut.
"I asked him not to launch a large-scale attack on Beirut, and he ordered his troops to turn back. Thank you, Bibi! I also spoke with representatives of Hezbollah's leadership, and they agreed to stop attacking Israel and its soldiers. Similarly, Israel agreed to stop firing at Hezbollah. Let's see how long that lasts, hopefully forever," Trump said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu wrote on X that he had told President Trump that "if Hezbollah does not stop attacking our cities and people, Israel will attack targets in Beirut." The Israeli leader also emphasized that the IDF would continue to "operate as planned" in southern Lebanon.
By Huyen Le (According to Axios, Times of Israel, Hill)
