Trump and Netanyahu Clash in Tense Call Over Potential Beirut Operation as Israel Announces Lebanon Ground Moves

President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday and talked him out of invading suburbs outside Beirut, Lebanon. The call was tense and expletive-ridden, according to Axios reporting cited by the Washington Examiner. Axios reported that Trump told Netanyahu: “You’re f*g crazy.

You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. ” Netanyahu later released a statement saying Israel’s position regarding Hezbollah had not changed and that Israel would carry out strikes on targets in and around Beirut if attacked first.

Israel announced a ground operation aimed at Lebanon on Monday. -Iran ceasefire talks. Trump and Netanyahu have a close personal relationship but have privately disagreed on multiple occasions since Trump reentered office in January 2025.

Some Trumpworld insiders want the president to be more publicly vocal about those differences. Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) said the war could become a “political liability” if it lingers, though she supports Trump’s mission to keep nuclear weapons out of Iran’s hands.

One former Trump administration official said Israel has “different interests than we do” as it relates to the Iranian conflict. ” A second former Trump staffer who held a national security role in the first Trump administration wrote that Trump should give more public notice on his disagreements with Netanyahu. ” Trump himself said the negotiations with Iran are getting, frankly, pretty boring.

Another former and one current senior administration official voiced concern that the president may be forced to reescalate fighting with Iran before long. S. military assets in the region despite the ceasefire.

The current senior Trump administration aide noted that historically Trump usually takes Netanyahu’s position on security issues and said it would not be surprising if the president determines that Iran is stringing him along in peace talks. S. agreed to a 60-day ceasefire agreement with Iran, but Trump has yet to give final approval.

White House officials declined to comment on the Monday call with Netanyahu.