'I Was A Little Perturbed': Trump Confirms Expletive-Laden Call With Netanyahu Over Lebanon
'I Was A Little Perturbed': Trump Confirms Expletive-Laden Call With Netanyahu Over Lebanon Published By, Last Updated: June 03, 2026, 18:32 IST Trump confirmed he
'I Was A Little Perturbed': Trump Confirms Expletive-Laden Call With Netanyahu Over Lebanon Published By, Last Updated: June 03, 2026, 18:32 IST Trump confirmed he berated Netanyahu over Lebanon tensions, amid disputed reports of threats to bomb Beirut and concerns over stalled Iran peace talks. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump. (AFP) US President Donald Trump has confirmed a heated and expletive-filled phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he was “a little perturbed" over Israel’s military escalation in Lebanon. Speaking in an interview published Wednesday by the New York Post, Trump acknowledged the exchange after being asked whether he had confronted Netanyahu in blunt terms during a call on Monday. Trump confirmed the substance of the remarks, saying tensions were high over Lebanon. “I did," he said. “I wouldn’t say angry. I was a little bit perturbed at his constant fighting with Lebanon," he added.
“At some point I said, ‘Bibi, we’ve got to stop this. We’ve got to stop it.’" Trump further stated he still maintained a close working relationship with Netanyahu despite the confrontation. “We’ve done well together… I like Bibi a lot," he added. Trump’s ‘Everybody Hates You’ Remark According to the Axios report, which cited an unidentified US official, Trump said to Netanyahu in a call on Monday: “You’re f****** crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your a**. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this." The comments were first reported earlier in the week following renewed violence in Lebanon, where Israeli strikes have intensified amid repeated violations of a fragile truce with Hezbollah. Trump comments come as Israel faces growing international criticism over its military campaign in Lebanon, which has further strained efforts to revive stalled talks with Iran aimed at ending the wider Middle East war.
Rising Tensions Across The Region The reported call underscores increasingly fragile ties between Washington and Tel Aviv at a time of widening regional instability. The war, which began after Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran in late February, has since spread into Lebanon and triggered wider regional fallout. Lebanon’s health ministry says Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,465 people since March 2, while Israeli authorities report at least 26 soldiers and one civilian contractor killed in the same period. Iran has said it will not agree to a deal with the United States to end the war that Trump and Netanyahu launched in late February, unless a ceasefire also covers Lebanon, which Israel invaded in March in pursuit of the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militia that fired across the border in support of Tehran. Hostilities have continued despite a US-mediated agreement announced on Monday that led Israel to step back from attacking the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut, and the Iran-backed group to halt cross-border strikes.
(With inputs from agencies) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers,... Read More Location: United States of America (USA) First Published: June 03, 2026, 18:11 IST News world 'I Was A Little Perturbed': Trump Confirms Expletive-Laden Call With Netanyahu Over Lebanon Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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