IRIA News

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U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a tense phone call on June 1, 2026, according to multiple U.S. officials and media outlets. The call came as Israel expanded its military operations in Lebanon amid rising regional tensions and ongoing U.S. negotiations with Iran.

A U.S. official told Axios that Trump told Netanyahu, “You’re f****** crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving you a**. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.”

According to officials, Trump reacted angrily to reports of Israel’s planned escalation, particularly potential strikes on Beirut and expanded operations against Hezbollah positions.

One U.S. official said Trump told Netanyahu that his actions were damaging Israel’s standing and complicating U.S. diplomatic efforts. Sources described the president as furious during parts of the call, accusing Netanyahu of escalating the conflict at a time when Washington was pushing for broader regional de-escalation.

Another source cited by Axios said Trump pressed Netanyahu on the purpose and scale of the operations, questioning the strategy behind continued strikes in Lebanon.

Officials said Trump acknowledged Israel’s right to respond to Hezbollah attacks but argued that recent military actions had gone too far, particularly given civilian casualties and the destruction of buildings to target individual commanders.

Rising Tensions Over Escalation

The phone call took place as Israel intensified its operations in southern Lebanon and considered expanding strikes closer to Beirut.

The escalation has raised concerns in Washington that the conflict could spiral into a wider regional war and disrupt ongoing U.S. diplomatic channels with Iran.

U.S. officials said Trump warned that striking Beirut would further isolate Israel internationally and risk collapsing delicate diplomatic efforts already underway with Tehran.

The negotiations between Washington and Iran are reportedly linked to broader regional stability, including efforts to reduce hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

Dispute Over Proportionality and Strategy

Sources familiar with the conversation said Trump’s main concern was what he viewed as disproportionate Israeli military responses in Lebanon.

Trump was particularly critical of tactics involving the destruction of buildings to target individual Hezbollah figures, which U.S. officials said he believed was inflaming regional tensions and increasing civilian harm.

Despite his criticism, Trump reportedly acknowledged that Hezbollah had been carrying out attacks on Israel and reiterated that Israel has a right to defend itself. However, he argued that the scale and direction of Israel’s response risked undermining that legitimacy.

Pressure Linked to Iran Negotiations

Officials said Trump’s frustration was also driven by concerns that escalation in Lebanon could derail ongoing negotiations with Iran. According to sources, Tehran has linked progress in talks to a reduction in regional hostilities, including a ceasefire or de-escalation in Lebanon.

Trump reportedly warned Netanyahu that continued military escalation could “implode” the diplomatic track and leave Israel more isolated at a critical moment in regional negotiations.

Competing Readouts of Call

Following the conversation, Israeli officials sought to downplay the most severe characterisations of the exchange.

Netanyahu’s office did not confirm the more explosive reported remarks but acknowledged that the call was tense and focused on military developments in Lebanon.

An Israeli source cited in local reports said the two leaders ultimately reached an understanding under which Israel would refrain from striking Beirut, provided Hezbollah does not escalate attacks further. However, Israel reportedly maintained that operations in southern Lebanon would continue.

Trump later described the call in more positive terms on Truth Social, suggesting that Israeli plans for a major strike on Beirut had been halted following his intervention and that broader efforts to reduce violence were ongoing.

Israeli military sources, however, denied that troops had been preparing a direct move toward Beirut.

Wider Implications for U.S.-Israel Relations

The reported exchange underscores growing differences between the United States and Israel over the scope and intensity of Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon.

While the U.S. continues to support Israel’s security operations against Hezbollah, officials in Washington are increasingly concerned that escalation risks triggering a wider regional conflict.

The episode also highlights the central role of Iran negotiations in shaping U.S. regional diplomacy, with Lebanon now emerging as a key linked theatre in broader efforts to stabilize the region.

Despite the tensions, officials on both sides indicated that communication channels remain open, even as disagreements over strategy and escalation become more visible.