President Donald Trump said he has to keep Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "a little bit sane," offering a rare public jab at one of Washington's closest allies while insisting that the two leaders still maintain a good relationship. The remarks came amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following months of fighting involving Israel, Hezbollah and Iran.
Trump made the comments while discussing U.S. support for Israel and the fragile truce that followed the recent conflict with Iran. He argued that American military backing had been essential to Israel's security and stressed Washington's leverage over its ally.
"If it weren't for Donald Trump, Israel would have been eviscerated," Trump said during an interview with Axios reporter Mark Caputo, according to CNBC. Referring to Netanyahu, he added that he had to keep the Israeli leader "a little bit sane" and noted that the United States had provided military capabilities including B-2 bombers.
Asked whether he could prevent Israel from launching further attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon that might jeopardize a preliminary peace arrangement with Iran, Trump expressed confidence. "They have a lot of respect for me, and they do as I say," he said, according to the New York Post.
Trump's comments came after days of renewed fighting between Israel and Hezbollah threatened to undermine the ceasefire framework reached with U.S. involvement. A truce between Israel and Hezbollah took effect Friday after intense clashes earlier in the week, although reports of violations emerged shortly afterward, according to Reuters.
The president's latest remarks also underscored strains that have surfaced between him and Netanyahu despite years of close cooperation. During the Group of Seven summit earlier this week, Trump suggested Netanyahu should use a "softer touch" in Lebanon and voiced frustration over the scale of Israeli attacks.
Those tensions became public earlier this month when Trump confirmed reports of a heated phone call with Netanyahu following Israeli strikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. Trump acknowledged using strong language and admitted he had described the Israeli leader as "crazy" during the conversation, according to Reuters.
The disagreement centered on concerns that renewed military action could derail negotiations with Iran. During the call, Trump pressed Netanyahu to avoid further escalation and warned that continued strikes risked undermining diplomatic efforts, Associated Press reported. Israeli officials defended the operations, saying Hezbollah attacks required a response.
CNBC, citing the Axios interview, reported that Trump insisted he remained on good terms with Netanyahu despite their disagreements. He argued that the United States had played a decisive role in Israel's survival during the conflict and maintained that Washington's military support gave him significant influence over Israeli decisions.
The friction marks a shift in a relationship that had long been viewed as one of the strongest between a U.S. president and an Israeli prime minister. Trump and Netanyahu worked closely during Trump's first term and resumed their partnership after his return to the White House, but differences over the war involving Iran and Hezbollah have increasingly spilled into public view.
The conflict intensified earlier this year after Israeli operations against Iranian-backed groups expanded across Lebanon and Syria. The fighting drew in the United States and Iran before a ceasefire agreement was reached with international mediation. Discussions at the G7 summit in France this week focused heavily on preserving the truce and preventing further escalation.
Despite the recent disputes, Trump reiterated in the interview that he and Netanyahu "worked well" together and described their relationship as "good," even as he acknowledged the need to keep the Israeli prime minister "a little bit sane."
