Trump Blasts Netanyahu Over Lebanon Military Campaign
President Trump reportedly swore at Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu during a June 1 call, accusing him of jeopardizing Iran negotiations and warning that only US support protects him from prison.
Trump swore directly at Netanyahu during a heated telephone exchange on June 1, accusing him of jeopardizing delicate negotiations with Iran through reckless escalation against Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, according to Brussels Signal.
Donald Trump reportedly told Benjamin Netanyahu during the call that he was behaving irrationally, using profanity to express his anger at Israel’s expanding campaign. The American president warned that without US backing, the Israeli prime minister would be facing prison time.
Two US officials and a third source briefed on the conversation confirmed to Axios that Trump accused Netanyahu of ingratitude, emphasizing that American support was all that stood between him and political ruin. One official characterized Trump’s message as blunt: the president said he was saving Netanyahu’s career while Israel’s actions were turning global opinion decisively against both the country and its leader.
The confrontation erupted after Iran announced earlier that day it would abandon ongoing talks with Washington if Israeli military action in Lebanon continued, as Brussels Signal reports. Tehran has made any agreement conditional on achieving a ceasefire in Lebanon.
US officials indicated that Trump acknowledged Hezbollah’s repeated rocket attacks on Israeli territory and recognized Israel’s right to self-defense. However, the president objected to what he viewed as disproportionate responses, particularly operations that destroyed entire residential buildings to eliminate single Hezbollah commanders and the mounting civilian casualties.
A second source described Trump as having steamrolled Netanyahu during the exchange, with the Israeli leader reportedly responding with repeated acknowledgments and requesting assurances that matters would be handled.
Following the call, Trump posted on Truth Social that he had specifically asked Netanyahu not to proceed with a major raid on Beirut and that Israeli forces had reversed course. He added that negotiations with Iran were advancing rapidly.
Netanyahu’s public statement struck a markedly different tone. The Israeli prime minister said he had informed Trump that Israel would strike targets in Beirut if Hezbollah refused to halt its attacks. He reaffirmed that Israel’s position remained unchanged and vowed to continue operations in southern Lebanon.
Officials told Axios the June 1 exchange represented one of the most contentious conversations between the two leaders since Trump’s return to the White House.
The tensions follow the joint US-Israeli military offensive launched against Iran on February 28, which resulted in the death of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
With information from Brussels Signal
