US President Donald Trump delivered a blistering rebuke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an expletive-filled phone call over Israel’s escalating military actions in Lebanon, warning that a planned strike on Beirut would further isolate Israel and jeopardize sensitive U.S.–Iran negotiations, Axios reported on Monday. The heated exchange underscores how Israel’s Lebanon campaign is straining ties with its most important ally at a critical diplomatic moment.
According to two U.S. officials and a third source briefed on the call, Trump told Netanyahu he was “crazy” for threatening to bomb the Lebanese capital and accused him of ingratitude for past political backing, including during Netanyahu’s corruption trial. One U.S. official summarized the president’s words as: “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 acknowledged that Hezbollah rocket and missile fire required Israel to defend itself but argued that Netanyahu’s response in recent days had become disproportionate and politically disastrous, especially as civilian casualties mounted in Lebanon. A second source briefed on the conversation said Trump was “pissed” and at one point shouted, “What the fuck are you doing?” at the Israeli leader.
U.S. Pressure Halts Beirut Strike Plan
The Axios report says Trump “put the brakes” on Israel’s plan to hit Hezbollah targets in Beirut, pressing Netanyahu that such an attack would leave Israel even more isolated on the world stage. An Israeli official later told Axios that Israel no longer intends to strike Hezbollah in the Lebanese capital, indicating that U.S. pressure has had a direct operational impact on Israeli planning.
Washington is particularly alarmed by the scale of destruction in Lebanon, with one U.S. official citing cases in which Israeli forces demolished entire buildings to kill a single Hezbollah commander, contributing to a high civilian death toll. At the same time, Israel has been expanding its ground operations in southern Lebanon, deepening concerns in the White House that the conflict could spiral and derail broader regional diplomacy.
The confrontation comes as Iran has threatened to abandon negotiations with Washington in protest at Israel’s actions in Lebanon, raising the stakes of any further escalation. U.S. officials told Axios that Trump’s anger was driven in large part by fear that Netanyahu’s decisions in Lebanon could “implode” the emerging U.S.–Iran memorandum, which is expected to include an end to fighting in Lebanon.
Trump posted on Truth Social after the call that talks with Tehran were “continuing, at a rapid pace,” signaling his determination to protect the diplomatic track despite tensions with Jerusalem. One official described this as one of Trump’s worst calls with Netanyahu since returning to office, even though the two leaders have historically coordinated closely on Iran and regional security.
Following the call, Netanyahu issued a statement saying he had told Trump that Israel would attack targets in Beirut if Hezbollah did not stop its attacks, and that Israel would meanwhile continue its operations in southern Lebanon. “Our position remains the same,” the prime minister wrote, presenting a public posture of defiance despite American pressure.
However, a U.S. official quoted by Axios claimed Trump had effectively “steamrolled” Netanyahu during the conversation, saying the Israeli leader ultimately backed down and replied, “OK, OK, just make sure everything is taken care of”. Netanyahu’s office did not respond to Axios’ request for comment, leaving the stark U.S. account of the call unchallenged for now.