Trump Called Netanyahu 'Crazy' Over Lebanon Escalation. Are US-Israel Relations Changing Forever?

Last Updated:June 03, 2026, 14:51 IST

Trump-Netanyahu relationship has become unpredictable despite their history together. Personal chemistry alone may no longer be sufficient to overcome growing strategic differences

US President Donald Trump’s reported anger at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over a major military escalation in Lebanon and its potential damage to Washington’s ongoing negotiations with Iran underscores the increasingly shaky ties between the two allies.

Trump accused Netanyahu of being ungrateful and called him “crazy". At one point during a 15-minute call with Netanyahu, Trump asked the Israeli PM, “What the f*** are you doing?"

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement that Iran “considers crossing the red lines in Lebanon and Gaza to mean direct war."

The Trump-Netanyahu episode raises questions about whether the relationship between the two leaders is entering a more difficult phase, and whether a widening gap between the US-Israeli strategic priorities could reshape the future of the alliance.

What Happened Between Trump And Netanyahu?

The latest tensions emerged after Israeli military operations in Lebanon raised fears of a wider regional conflict. According to reports, Trump expressed frustration with Netanyahu after Israeli actions threatened to escalate fighting at a time when Washington was attempting to prevent another major war in the Middle East.

ABC News reported that Trump was so angered by the developments that he personally intervened to prevent further escalation, reflecting growing concern within the White House about the possibility of a broader conflict.

Netanyahu later released a statement after the Monday’s call. “I spoke with President Trump this evening and told him that if Hezbollah does not stop attacking our cities and citizens, Israel will attack terror targets in Beirut," he said. “Our position remains the same. At the same time, the IDF will continue to operate as planned in southern Lebanon," Netanyahu stressed.

The episode was significant because it publicly highlighted disagreements between two leaders often portrayed as close political allies.

Israel’s Channel 12 said there was a misunderstanding between the two leaders: “Trump felt Netanyahu implied the war was continuing at full intensity, while Netanyahu felt Trump implied a total ceasefire," wrote Amit Segal, the channel’s chief political analyst, citing a close aide to Netanyahu, as quoted by Guardian.

“There was a little glitch today, but I turned that one around very quickly, as you probably noticed earlier," Trump later told ABC News.

Since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, fears have persisted that fighting could expand beyond Israel and Hamas to include Hezbollah in Lebanon and potentially Iran itself.

Such a conflict would be far more dangerous than previous regional confrontations. Hezbollah possesses an extensive missile arsenal, while Iran remains the most powerful adversary Israel faces in the region. For Washington, preventing that scenario has become a strategic priority.

Why Is Trump Confronting Netanyahu?

The disagreement appears to stem from differing priorities rather than a breakdown in the relationship itself.

Netanyahu’s government continues to view Iran and its network of regional allies as the primary threat to Israel’s security. From Jerusalem’s perspective, military pressure remains a necessary tool for deterrence.

Trump, however, appears increasingly focused on a broader regional strategy that extends beyond Israel’s immediate security concerns.

According to NPR, the Trump-Netanyahu relationship has always been more complicated than it appears publicly. The two leaders have worked together closely for years and share many political objectives. Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital during his first term and brokered the Abraham Accords, which normalised relations between Israel and several Arab states.

Yet the relationship has also experienced moments of tension. Trump has previously criticised Netanyahu when he believed Israeli actions conflicted with American interests or political goals.

The latest dispute suggests that Washington may increasingly view regional stability as equally important as supporting Israeli military objectives.

According to NPR, when the war began, both Trump and Netanyahu wanted Iran’s Islamic government toppled and its nuclear programme completely dismantled. “But now Trump is clearly focused on a deal, one that would involve a lot of compromises… it would leave the regime in place. He still opposes Iran’s nuclear programme but appears willing to negotiate that after the war ends."

Is This A Temporary Disagreement Or A Deeper Shift?

Most analysts believe that the US-Israel alliance could be under threat. The US remains Israel’s largest military partner and diplomatic backer. American military aid, intelligence cooperation and political support continue to form the foundation of Israel’s security architecture.

However, the current tensions may signal Washington’s willingness to place limits on Israeli military actions when broader American interests are at stake.

According to analysts cited by France 24, the Trump-Netanyahu relationship has become increasingly unpredictable despite the leaders’ long history together. Personal chemistry alone may no longer be sufficient to overcome growing strategic differences.

A pew survey published on April 7 found that 60% of Americans hold an unfavourable view of Israel, up from 53% just a year earlier. Only 37% said they viewed Israel favourably. Even more troubling is the trajectory. Since 2022, favourable views of Israel have fallen by roughly 20 points.

The survey also found out that roughly 70% of respondents under the age of 50 were not in the favour of Israel.

Another poll by Gallup showed a similar trend right before the war broke out in late February. For the first time in 25 years of polling, more Americans said they sympathised with the Palestinians than with the Israelis.

The key issue is that the US and Israel do not always define success in the same way.

Israel’s leadership often prioritises immediate security threats and military deterrence. Washington, by contrast, must balance Israel’s security concerns against a much wider set of interests that include energy markets, regional alliances, relations with Gulf states and global economic stability. As those interests diverge, friction becomes more likely.

How Has Netanyahu’s Relations Been With US Presidents?

Netanyahu’s relationship with US presidents has often been turbulent despite the strength of the US-Israel alliance. Since first becoming prime minister in 1996, he has worked with five US presidents and frequently clashed with them over key policy issues.

His difficult relationship with then-President Bill Clinton became evident early on. After their first meeting in 1996, Clinton reportedly remarked, “Who’s the f***ing superpower here?", reflecting frustration with Netanyahu’s approach.

Netanyahu also had strained ties with Barack Obama, largely over Iran. The Israeli leader strongly opposed the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and took the extraordinary step of addressing the US Congress to lobby against it. Invited by Republican leaders, Netanyahu used the speech to criticise the agreement, deepening political divisions in Washington. Many Democrats viewed the move as interference in US domestic politics. Then-Vice President Joe Biden and dozens of lawmakers skipped the address.

Although Biden and Netanyahu have known each other for decades, their relationship has often been marked by mistrust, with Biden publicly questioning Netanyahu’s intentions at times.

Donald Trump, meanwhile, aligned closely with Netanyahu on Iran. Trump made opposition to the nuclear deal a central campaign issue, withdrew the US from the agreement in 2018 and remains a vocal critic of it. Even so, recent disagreements over regional conflicts suggest that personal ties do not always translate into policy alignment.

What The New Israeli-US Relations Could Mean For The World?

Without Israeli alignment, US Middle East policy could pivot. Washington pursues direct, independent negotiations with regional powers like Iran, as seen in the push for Straits of Hormuz stability and truces with Hezbollah. By decoupling its strategy from Jerusalem, the US prioritises its own economic recovery and the prevention of broader regional escalation.

Israel faces immediate diplomatic pressure and growing international isolation. Deprived of the US diplomatic shield, the Israeli government struggles to manage multiple open conflict fronts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. This loss of unquestioned American backing emboldens international bodies and European nations to press harder for strict ceasefire conditions and long-term peace frameworks.

The rift heavily influences Israeli domestic politics, leaving the country deeply polarised regarding its reliance on Washington. Political challengers argue that allowing the US to dictate national security reduces Israel to a “client state", while others point to the international fallout as a failure of Netanyahu’s governance. This pressure greatly accelerates calls for new elections and an entirely new government strategy.

Regional players like Saudi Arabia and the UAE no longer require an American-Israeli security consensus for cooperation. Instead, they pursue independent economic and diplomatic de-escalation strategies. This creates a newly fragmented security environment where Gulf nations manage ties with both Washington and Tehran directly, without having to navigate a US-Israeli bloc.

For India, the most immediate concern is energy security. India imports more than 85% of its crude oil requirements, with a substantial portion coming from West Asia. Any escalation involving Iran, Israel or Lebanon could push global oil prices higher, increasing India’s import bill and potentially fuelling domestic inflation.

India also has a large diaspora spread across Gulf countries and the wider Middle East. Its long-term geopolitical interests are tied to regional stability. New Delhi has invested in partnerships with Israel, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other regional powers. Escalating conflict would complicate these relationships and potentially slow connectivity initiatives that are central to India’s economic ambitions.

About the Author

Shilpy Bisht

Shilpy Bisht is a News Editor at News18, where she leads the English app operations. She writes on world affairs, health, AI, career, business, and issues affecting women and children. A former print ...Read More

News explainers Trump Called Netanyahu 'Crazy' Over Lebanon Escalation. Are US-Israel Relations Changing Forever?