US President Donald Trump confirmed that he called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “fucking crazy” during a phone call on Monday, while insisting that the two leaders continue to have a strong working relationship, according to an interview published by the New York Post.Trump made the comments during an exclusive “Pod Force One” interview with Washington Post reporter Miranda Devine, acknowledging his frustration with Israel’s military escalation in Lebanon, which he said complicates broader diplomatic efforts related to negotiations with Iran.“I’m a little disturbed by his ongoing conflict with Lebanon,” Trump said in the interview.However, he stressed that his personal relationship with Netanyahu remained intact, saying: “We work well together. I like Bibi very much. And I work well with him. “The admission confirmed previous reports that Trump used expletive-laden language during the call, including calling Netanyahu “f**king crazy” amid tensions over Israel’s actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
‘Wartime leaders’ amid rising regional tensions
Trump defended the tone of the conversation, saying both he and Netanyahu were operating under wartime pressures.“I’m a wartime president,” Trump said. “He was a wartime prime minister.”He added that while he was concerned the conflict would derail diplomatic progress, he still hoped to resolve broader regional tensions “fairly quickly.”The comments come as the United States grapples with parallel crises involving Iran, Israel and Hezbollah, with Washington trying to balance military escalation with nuclear negotiations.It is worth noting that this is not the first time Trump and Netanyahu have had a heated exchange. About two weeks ago, the U.S. president and the Israeli prime minister held another tense conference call that focused on efforts to resume diplomacy with Iran.U.S. media reports at the time showed sharp differences between the two leaders over whether to continue negotiations with Tehran or escalate military pressure.Axios reported that the discussions included a revised peace proposal drafted by regional mediators aimed at narrowing differences between Washington and Tehran, with one source describing Netanyahu’s reaction after the call as saying his “hair was on fire.”
Iran talks and Strait of Hormuz at center of tensions
Trump also linked the conflict in Lebanon to broader geopolitical negotiations involving Iran, suggesting an escalation could derail discussions about reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route.A memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days, according to the interview, but Trump warned the timeline remained uncertain.He said energy prices and global markets remained more stable than expected despite earlier warnings of major disruptions, noting that oil prices had not surged to the extreme levels predicted by critics.
Lebanon conflict and diplomacy under pressure
Trump acknowledged that ongoing violence involving Israel and Hezbollah complicates diplomatic efforts but said he remained optimistic that a deal could be reached soon.The exchange reportedly reflected growing tensions between Washington and Tel Aviv over the scale and timing of Israeli attacks in Lebanon, especially as civilian casualties and regional spillovers increase U.S. diplomatic pressure.Trump also sees the broader conflict as part of his administration’s attempt to secure a broader regional solution involving Iran, Lebanon and Israel.
