President Donald Trump reportedly delivered a blunt and profane message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call Monday, expressing frustration over Israeli military actions in Lebanon as tensions threatened to complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts in the region.
According to a report from Axios, which cited two unnamed U.S. officials and a third anonymous source, Trump sharply criticized Netanyahu during the conversation, demanding to know, “What the f*** are you doing?” The reported exchange came amid growing concerns that renewed fighting could derail negotiations and deepen an already volatile conflict.
Earlier Monday, Iranian state media claimed that Iran had suspended negotiations with the United States because of Israel’s actions in Lebanon. The developments followed Israeli responses to rocket fire launched into Israel by Hezbollah.
Axios reported that Trump accused Netanyahu of showing “ingratitude” and even referred to the Israeli leader as “crazy,” according to two of the outlet’s sources. The report also stated that Trump reminded Netanyahu of his previous support regarding the prime minister’s ongoing corruption trial.
The trial, which is currently paused, has drawn repeated criticism from Trump. The president has publicly denounced the proceedings and has urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog to grant Netanyahu a pardon.
One U.S. official summarized Trump’s comments to Axios in especially stark terms, saying the president told Netanyahu that he would be in prison if not for Trump’s support and complained that the conflict was damaging Israel’s standing internationally.
While the reported phone call was marked by anger and frustration, Trump later struck a far more optimistic tone in a post on Truth Social.
The president said he had spoken directly with Netanyahu and urged him not to launch a major raid into Beirut, Lebanon. According to Trump, Netanyahu agreed and turned Israeli troops around following the conversation.
Trump also claimed he spoke with representatives of Hezbollah’s leadership and said they agreed to stop firing on Israel and Israeli soldiers. He further stated that Israel had likewise agreed to halt attacks.
“Let’s see how long that lasts — Hopefully it will be for ETERNITY!” Trump wrote.
The possibility of a ceasefire appeared to gain additional momentum when Lebanon announced Hezbollah’s alleged acceptance of a U.S.-backed proposal calling for a mutual cessation of attacks. The Lebanese embassy in the United States said it had received confirmation that Hezbollah accepted the proposal.
Even as talk of de-escalation emerged, Netanyahu signaled that Israel’s military posture would remain unchanged unless Hezbollah fully ended its attacks.
In a statement posted to X, the Israeli leader said he had informed Trump that Israel would continue targeting what he described as terror targets in Beirut if Hezbollah continued attacking Israeli cities and civilians.
Netanyahu wrote that Israel’s position remained unchanged and that the Israel Defense Forces would continue operations in southern Lebanon as planned.
The developments highlight the delicate balance between military action and diplomatic efforts in a region where every new exchange of fire risks widening the conflict. While ceasefire discussions have generated cautious optimism, both sides continue to signal a willingness to resume operations if attacks persist, leaving the durability of any agreement uncertain.
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