US President Donald Trump confirmed that he called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “crazy” during a phone call on Monday, while insisting that the two leaders continue to maintain a strong working relationship, according to an interview published by the New York Post.Trump made the comments in an exclusive interview with The Washington Post’s Miranda Devine, acknowledging that he is frustrated by Israel’s military escalation in Lebanon, which he said complicates broader diplomatic efforts related to negotiations with Iran.“I was a little upset by his continued fighting with Lebanon,” Trump said in the interview.However, he stressed that his personal relationship with Netanyahu remains intact, saying: “We worked very well together.
I love baby so much. “I work very well with him.”This admission confirms previous reports that Trump used profanity-laced language during the call, including calling Netanyahu “crazy” amid tensions over Israeli operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“Wartime leaders” amid escalating regional tensions
Defending the tone of the conversation, Trump said that he and Netanyahu were working under the pressures of war.“I am a wartime president,” Trump said.
“He is a wartime prime minister.”He added that while he was concerned about the conflict hampering diplomatic progress, he still expected broader regional tensions to be resolved “fairly quickly.”These statements come amid ongoing US-led efforts to manage parallel crises involving Iran, Israel, and Hezbollah, as Washington tries to balance military escalation with nuclear negotiations.It is worth noting that this is not the first time that Trump and Netanyahu have reportedly entered into a heated debate.
About two weeks ago, the US President and the Israeli Prime Minister had another tense phone call that focused on efforts to revive diplomacy with Iran.American media reports at the time indicated that there were sharp differences between the two leaders over continuing negotiations with Tehran or escalating military pressure.According to Axios, the discussion included a revised peace proposal drawn up by regional mediators, aimed at narrowing the gaps between Washington and Tehran, with one source describing Netanyahu’s reaction after the call as “his hair was on fire.”
Iranian talks and the Strait of Hormuz are at the heart of tensions
Trump also linked the Lebanese conflict to broader geopolitical negotiations involving Iran, suggesting that the escalation threatens to undermine discussions about reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a major global energy route.According to the interview, a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz will likely be reached in the coming days, although Trump warned that timelines remain uncertain.He said that energy prices and global markets were more stable than expected despite previous warnings of major disruptions, noting that oil prices did not rise to the extreme levels that critics expected.
Pressure on the Lebanese conflict and diplomacy
Trump acknowledged that the ongoing violence between Israel and Hezbollah complicates diplomatic efforts, but said he remains optimistic that an agreement can be reached soon.This exchange is said to reflect the growing tension between Washington and Tel Aviv over the size and timing of Israeli strikes in Lebanon, especially as the civilian casualties and their regional repercussions increase pressure on American diplomacy.Trump also framed the broader conflict as part of his administration’s attempt to secure a broader regional settlement that includes Iran, Lebanon and Israel.
