Trump Acknowledges Calling Netanyahu ‘Crazy’ Amid Lebanon Conflict

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that he had referred to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as 'crazy' during a recent phone call concerning escalating conflict in Lebanon. The conversation occurred while the United States was attempting to mediate an end to hostilities involving Iran.

In an interview aired on June 3, 2026, Trump responded affirmatively when asked whether he had described Netanyahu as 'effing crazy', a comment highlighted in a report by Axios. 'I did,' Trump stated in his appearance on the 'Pod Force One' podcast, adding that he was 'a little bit perturbed' with Netanyahu's ongoing military actions in Lebanon.

According to Trump, he expressed his concerns directly to Netanyahu during the call on June 3. An unnamed U.S. official cited by Axios conveyed that Trump told Netanyahu, '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 maintained that he and Netanyahu maintain a good working relationship.

During the podcast interview, Trump further remarked, 'At some point I said, Bibi, we got to stop this. We got to stop it.'

The backdrop of this intense dialogue is the ongoing conflict in Lebanon, particularly involving Hezbollah, the Iran-aligned militia. Iran has stated that it will not negotiate a halt to hostilities initiated by Trump and Netanyahu unless a ceasefire also encompasses Lebanon.

Despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement announced on June 1, which intended to curb Israeli attacks on the Hezbollah-controlled regions of southern Beirut, violence persisted. On June 3, Israeli drone strikes resulted in multiple casualties in southern Lebanon, while Lebanon reported at least six fatalities from these strikes. Additionally, Israeli forces claimed to have intercepted a hostile aircraft, believed to be launched by Hezbollah.

Trump, when questioned about whether Netanyahu had deceived him into launching attacks on Iran, responded with irritation, stating that his critics are 'the enemy'. This is not the first time Trump has used strong language regarding Israel, having previously stated in an address last year that both Israel and Iran were uncertain in their approaches to various conflicts.

As the situation in the region remains volatile, both the United States and Israel are under increasing scrutiny regarding their strategies in dealing with Hezbollah and the broader implications for Middle Eastern stability.