Trump Calls Netanyahu 'F***ing Crazy' Over Lebanon Escalation

<p>President Trump lashed out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel's escalation in <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/01/lebanon-full-ceasefire-hezbollah-israel-nabih-berri" target="_blank">Lebanon</a> in an expletive-laden call on Monday, two U.S. officials and a third source briefed on the call told Axios.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> Earlier on Monday, <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/iran" target="_blank">Iran</a> threatened to abandon the negotiations with the U.S. over Israel's actions in Lebanon. On the call, Trump called Netanyahu "crazy" and accused him of ingratitude, according to two of the sources. He also <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/01/trump-netanyahu-lebanon-israel-bomb-beirut" target="_blank">put the brakes on Israel's plan</a> to strike Beirut.</p><hr /><p><strong>Behind the scenes:</strong> One U.S. official said Trump told Netanyahu that following through on his threats to bomb the Lebanese capital would further isolate <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/israel" target="_blank">Israel</a> around the world. </p><ul><li>Two of the sources said <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump</a> claimed he'd helped keep Netanyahu out of jail — a reference to his support during Netanyahu's corruption trial.</li><li>Summarizing Trump's remarks to Netanyahu, the U.S. official said: "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."</li><li>A second source briefed on the call said Trump was "pissed" and at one point yelled at Netanyahu: "What the fuck are you doing?"</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong>The U.S. official said Trump knew Hezbollah had been shooting at Israel and that Israel needed to defend itself, but felt in recent days that Netanyahu was escalating in a disproportionate way.</p><ul><li>In addition to the threats on Beirut, Israel has been expanding its ground operation in southern Lebanon.</li><li>Another U.S. official said Trump was concerned by the fact that Israel had killed so many civilians in Lebanon, and objected to the Israelis knocking down buildings to take out a single Hezbollah commander.</li></ul><p><strong>State of play: </strong>Israel no longer plans to strike Hezbollah targets in Beirut, an Israeli official told Axios.</p><p><strong>Between the lines:</strong> Trump and Netanyahu have had several tense calls in the past but have still coordinated closely on Iran and other issues. One official said this was one of Trump's worst calls with Netanyahu since he returned to office.</p><ul><li>Trump's anger appeared to be driven by the fact that Netanyahu's decision to escalate in Lebanon was threatening to implode his negotiations with Iran.</li><li>After the call, Trump posted on Truth Social that the Iran talks were "continuing, at a rapid pace."</li></ul><p><strong>The other side: </strong>Netanyahu released a statement<strong> </strong>after the call saying he'd told Trump that Israel would attack targets in Beirut if Hezbollah did not stop attacking Israel, and that in the meantime Israel would continue its operations in southern Lebanon.</p><ul><li>"Our position remains the same," Netanyahu wrote.</li><li>The second U.S. official claimed that, in reality, Trump had "steamrolled" Netanyahu on the call. "Bibi said, 'OK, OK, just make sure everything is taken care of,'" according to the official.</li><li>Netanyahu's office did not respond to a request for comment.</li></ul><p><strong>What to watch: </strong>The memorandum the U.S. and Iran are negotiating calls for an end to the fighting in Lebanon, sources tell Axios. That was the source of a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/20/trump-netanyahu-call-iran-peace-plan" target="_blank">previous tense call</a> between Trump and Netanyahu.</p>

<p>President Trump on Monday pulled the brakes on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to bomb Hezbollah targets in Beirut after <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/iran" target="_blank">Iran</a> threatened to abandon its negotiations with the U.S. over Israel's actions in Lebanon.</p><ul><li>An Israeli official told Axios the planned strikes on Beirut would not be happening.</li></ul><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> Trump's decision to rein in Netanyahu was a clear signal that he doesn't want his key ally to get in the way of a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/31/trump-iran-deal-changes-nuclear" target="_blank">deal with Iran</a>.</p><hr /><ul><li>Trump claimed on Monday after his call with Netanyahu that the Iran negotiations "are continuing, at a rapid pace."</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news:</strong> On Monday, Netanyahu issued a joint statement with Defense Minister <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/israel" target="_blank">Israel</a> Katz threatening to bomb Hezbollah targets in the Dahieh District of Beirut "following repeated violations of the ceasefire" by the Iran-backed militia.</p><ul><li>In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued his own warning on X that Israel's actions in Lebanon were a violation of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, and the U.S. and Israel would bear "the consequences of any violation."</li><li>Iranian officials told the semi-official Tasnim news agency that no talks with the U.S. would take place until Israel stopped its attacks in Lebanon, and threatened retaliation in the Strait of Hormuz and possibly "other fronts."</li><li>Hours later, Trump spoke with Netanyahu. He released a Truth Social post afterwards claiming Israel and Hezbollah would stop attacking each other.</li></ul><p><strong>The latest: </strong>The Lebanese embassy in Washington later announced that Hezbollah accepted a U.S. proposal for a "mutual cessation of attacks," and that Trump had told the Lebanese ambassador he'd secured Netanyahu's agreement.</p><ul><li>The deal, which was proposed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, would involve Israel suspending its planned attacks on Beirut in exchange for Hezbollah halting its attacks on Israel.</li><li>Neither Israel nor Hezbollah have confirmed acceptance of such an offer. Previous announcements by the Trump administration of ceasefires in Lebanon have existed mainly on paper, rather than in reality.</li><li>Netanyahu said in a statement that he had told Trump that Israel would attack targets in Beirut if Hezbollah does not stop attacking Israel, and that in the meantime Israel would continue its operations in southern Lebanon.</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>The U.S. has urged <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/israel" target="_self">Israel</a> against striking Beirut for several weeks as part of a broader deescalation push, but a U.S. official hinted on Sunday that position could soften. </p><ul><li>"The U.S. does not expect Israel to absorb ongoing attacks on its civilians by a terrorist organization," the official told Axios.</li><li>Israel appeared poised on Monday to proceed with massive strikes. The Israeli military issued a statement in Arabic urging "all residents of the Dahieh District in Beirut to relocate for their safety."</li><li>Israel has also been expanding its ground operation in southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah continues to fire drones and missiles into Israel.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in:</strong> Around noon on Monday, Trump held a long phone call with Netanyahu to discuss the escalating crisis in Lebanon and the talks with Iran. </p><ul><li>Before the call, a senior U.S. official told Axios that Trump felt Netanyahu's threats to strike Beirut were going too far.</li><li>"I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, and there will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back," Trump wrote afterwards.</li><li>Israel didn't intend to send troops to Beirut, but rather to conduct massive airstrikes that could have knocked down buildings in the southern suburbs of Beirut where some of Hezbollah's headquarters are located. </li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue: </strong>Trump also claimed<strong> </strong>he'd had a "very good call" with "highly placed representatives" of Hezbollah who agreed<strong> "</strong>that all shooting will stop - That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel."</p><ul><li>It is not clear which representatives he was referring to.</li><li>The speaker of the Lebanese parliament, Nabih Berri, told the Trump administration on Sunday that <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/01/lebanon-full-ceasefire-hezbollah-israel-nabih-berri" target="_blank">Hezbollah was ready for a full and immediate ceasefire</a> with Israel and pledged to guarantee its implementation, Berri's top adviser Ali Hamdan told Axios.</li><li>U.S. officials didn't believe Netanyahu would accept a full ceasefire, and had made an unsuccessful push for a partial truce. </li></ul><p><strong>What's next:</strong> Talks between Israeli and Lebanese diplomats planned for Tuesday in Washington will take place as planned, according to a U.S. official.</p><p><em>This is a developing story and has been updated with comments from Lebanese and Israeli officials. </em></p>

<p>The latest U.S. push for a ceasefire in Lebanon has fizzled just as <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/israel" target="_blank">Israel</a> is expanding its ground invasion and seeking a U.S. green light to conduct massive strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut, sources tell Axios. </p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>The U.S. has urged Israel against striking Beirut for several weeks as part of a broader de-escalation push, but a U.S. official hinted that position could soften. "The U.S. does not expect Israel to absorb ongoing attacks on its civilians by a terrorist organization," the official told Axios.</p><hr /><p><strong>The big picture:</strong> The Trump administration's de-escalation effort in Lebanon has been partially motivated by its desire to reach a deal with Iran. </p><ul><li>The memorandum of understanding the U.S. and <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/31/trump-iran-deal-changes-nuclear" target="_blank">Iran are negotiating</a> includes an end to the fighting in Lebanon.</li><li>At the moment, the conflict is expanding and appears likely to spiral out of control.</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong>Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke over the past 48 hours with both Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to try to push forward a new ceasefire initiative, a U.S. official told Axios. A Lebanese official confirmed Rubio raised the initiative with Aoun.</p><ul><li>The basic idea was that Hezbollah would halt its missile and drone attacks against Israel, and Israel would avoid escalation in Beirut, according to the U.S. official.</li><li>The U.S. official said Aoun was supportive and asked the speaker of Lebanon's parliament, Nabih Berri, to press Hezbollah to halt its attacks on Israel.</li><li>The U.S. official claimed Berri, who leads a major Shiite party and has links to Hezbollah, gave an "evasive and disappointing" response, suggesting it should be Israel that stops firing first.</li></ul><p><strong>Reality check: </strong>President Trump and Rubio have announced several ceasefires between Israel and Lebanon over the last two months, but they have existed mostly on paper, with both Israel and Hezbollah violating them.</p><p><strong>Zoom out:</strong> Rubio's latest ceasefire push comes in the context of ongoing negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, which have yet to yield a major breakthrough.</p><ul><li>On Friday, Israeli and Lebanese military officers met at the Pentagon to discuss a possible ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the disarming of Hezbollah and the deployment of the Lebanese armed forces in southern Lebanon.</li><li>Later this week, Israeli and Lebanese diplomats are expected to meet at the State Department for another round of talks.</li></ul><p><strong>Catch up quick:</strong> Hezbollah started launching missile and drone attacks against Israel after Israel went to war with its patron, Iran, and assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.</p><ul><li>The Israeli military responded with airstrikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, which has since turned into an occupation. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has increased the range of its missile and drone attacks into Israel.</li><li>Israel has expanded its ground operation in recent days and has also asked the Trump administration to allow it to conduct major strikes in Beirut, Israeli officials say.</li><li>Trump has <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/29/israel-lebanon-strikes-trump-interview" target="_blank">previously stressed that Israel</a> should only conduct "surgical" strikes.</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines:</strong> A senior Lebanese official said neither Hezbollah nor Israel want a ceasefire and that the U.S. has not taken firm action to prevent Netanyahu from escalating. </p><ul><li>On the other hand, Iran's Revolutionary Guard has been urging Hezbollah to escalate in order to gain a bargaining chip in the U.S.-Iran talks, the Lebanese official contended. </li></ul>

<img src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/trump-boxes-netanyahu-s-ears-over-lebanon-offensive-calls-him-f-king-crazy-report.jpg?id=66851269&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C4" /><br /><br /><p>President Donald Trump's tolerance for allied actions that undermine America's negotiations with Iran may have reached its limit.</p><p>Negotiators representing the U.S. and Iran <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/iran-deal-trump-us-israel" target="_blank">appeared poised</a> last week to advance the cause of peace between their respective nations, extend the fragile ceasefire that first went into effect in April, and open the Strait of Hormuz again to trade.</p><p class="pull-quote">'Everybody hates you now.'</p><p>On Monday, Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116673094140159291" target="_blank">stated</a> that "Iran really wants to make a deal, and it will be a good one for the U.S.A. and those that are with us."</p><p>Within hours of the president expressing optimism about resolving the <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-economic-pain-deepens-disapproval-trump-hits-new-high" target="_blank">unpopular conflict</a> that is now in its 13th week — the peace talks began to quickly unravel.</p><p>Iranian state media and government officials <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/iran-reportedly-backs-out-of-peace-talks-over-israeli-attack-but-trump-says-thats-fine-with-him-we-talk-too-much" target="_blank">indicated</a> that Tehran was backing out of the talks largely over Israel's offensive in Lebanon and the escalations in Beirut that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had <a href="https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2061338803462078644?s=20" target="_blank">announced</a> earlier in the day.</p><p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/congress-may-be-quietly-seeking-to-integrate-us-and-israeli-militaries-but-critics-have-taken-notice" target="_blank">Congress may be quietly seeking to integrate US and Israeli militaries — but critics have taken notice</a></strong></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"> <img alt="" class="rm-shortcode" id="ed3b7" src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=66851306&amp;width=980" /><small class="image-media media-photo-credit">Evan Vucci/Pool/Getty Images</small></p><p>Although he initially appeared apathetic — <a href="https://x.com/GarrettHaake/status/2061480474292158561?s=20" target="_blank">telling</a> NBC News, for instance, "I think it's fine if they're done talking" — Trump attempted to resurrect the peace talks, calling Netanyahu to impress upon him the need to change course in Lebanon.</p><p><a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116676034049614301" target="_blank">According to the president</a>, Netanyahu agreed that "there will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back."</p><p>Two U.S. officials and a third source briefed on the call <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/01/trump-netanyahu-israel-lebanon-call" target="_blank">revealed</a> to Axios that Trump used some choice words and effectively "steamrolled" the Israeli prime minister.</p><p>One official, summarizing Trump's remarks to Netanyahu, claimed that the president effectively said, "You're f**king crazy. You'd be in prison if it weren't for me. I'm saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/israel-support-young-republicans-polling" target="_blank">hates</a> Israel because of this."</p><p>Netanyahu, who faces an <a href="https://www.icc-cpi.int/defendant/netanyahu" target="_blank">outstanding warrant</a> from the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, was <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/netanyahu-corruption-trial-divides-israeli-public-2024-12-09/" target="_blank">indicted</a> in 2019 in three Israeli criminal cases for alleged bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Last year, Trump <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyxg272nlyo" target="_blank">called</a> for Israel to pardon Netanyahu and/or drop his corruption case. Netanyahu's corruption trial is ongoing.</p><p class="pull-quote">'Let’s see how long that lasts.'</p><p>The source briefed on the call told Axios that Trump was "pissed" and yelled at Netanyahu, "What the f**k are you doing?"</p><p>One of the U.S. officials claimed that Trump was aware of Hezbollah's attacks on Israel and the Jewish state's need to defend itself but was still convinced that Netanyahu's recent escalations were disproportionate.</p><p>Another U.S. official told Axios that Trump was also concerned over how many civilians Israel has killed in Lebanon. Well over 3,300 people have been killed and around 10,000 have been injured in the Israeli strikes on Lebanon since March 2, <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/lebanonnews/2026-05-31/ty-article/.premium/lebanese-health-ministry-16-killed-34-wounded-in-israeli-strikes-in-past-day/0000019e-7a6c-dc9e-adfe-feef6c5f0000" target="_blank">according</a> to the Lebanese health ministry.</p><p>The White House did not respond to Blaze News' request for comment.</p><p>Shortly after the call, Netanyahu <a href="https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2061531248573460655?s=20" target="_blank">confirmed</a> he had spoken to Trump and "told him that if Hezbollah does not cease attacking our cities and citizens — Israel will attack terror targets in Beirut. This stance of ours remains unchanged. In parallel, the IDF will continue to operate as planned in southern Lebanon."</p><p>Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir publicly <a href="https://x.com/itamarbengvir/status/2061513201011831185" target="_blank">told</a> Netanyahu after the call that "this is the time to tell our friend, President Trump — 'no.' Now is the time to do what is required and necessary to strike Hezbollah, to unleash the hands of our fighters, and to restore security to the north."</p><p>After <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116676087445077253" target="_blank">stating</a> that "talks are continuing, at a rapid pace, with the Islamic Republic of Iran," Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116677048828976704" target="_blank">thanked</a> Netanyahu for reversing course on his planned Beirut attacks in a Monday evening post on Truth Social and noted that both Israel and Hezbollah have tentatively agreed to stop shooting at one another.</p><p>"Let’s see how long that lasts — Hopefully it will be for ETERNITY!" added Trump,</p><p><em>Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. </em><em><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink" target="_self">Sign up here</a></em><em>!</em></p>

<p>Angry phone call took place after Iran said it would suspend talks with US over Israel’s Lebanon campaign, Axios reports</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/jun/02/iran-us-israel-lebanon-trump-netanyahu-hezbollah-beirut-hormuz-talks-oil-latest-news-updates">Middle East crisis – live updates</a></p></li></ul><p>Donald Trump angrily confronted Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel’s threats to resume airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, according to a report.</p><p>“What the fuck are you doing?” the US president shouted at the Israeli prime minister during the phone call on Monday, according to Axios, a US website that has frequently published reports on high-level conversations between the two leaders.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/02/trump-shouted-and-cursed-netanyahu-over-threat-to-resume-beirut-bombing">Continue reading...</a>

President Trump reportedly took Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to task during a Monday phone call over the latter’s military campaign in Lebanon.&#160; Axios reported, citing two U.S. officials and a third source briefed on the call, that Trump called Netanyahu “crazy” and accused him of ingratitude.&#160; At one point, Trump reportedly yelled at Netanyahu,&#8230;