Netanyahu Rejects Claims He Follows Trump's Lead: 'We're Leaders Of Independent, Proud Countries'

Published 22 June 2026 · world

Netanyahu Rejects Claims He Follows Trump's Lead: 'We're Leaders Of Independent, Proud Countries' Published By, Last Updated: June 22, 2026, 06:58 IST Netanyahu said Israel

Netanyahu Rejects Claims He Follows Trump's Lead: 'We're Leaders Of Independent, Proud Countries' Published By, Last Updated: June 22, 2026, 06:58 IST Netanyahu said Israel and the US make decisions independently, reaffirmed opposition to Iran's nuclear ambitions and pledged security operations in Lebanon. File photos of Benjamin Netanyahu/Donald Trump (Reuters) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday dismissed claims that he takes cues from US President Donald Trump, insisting that both leaders make decisions independently in the interests of their respective countries. Speaking at the JNS Summit in Jerusalem, Netanyahu addressed speculation surrounding his relationship with Trump, saying perceptions in both Israel and the United States misrepresent the nature of their ties. “In the United States, they say that President Trump does everything that I ask him to do. And in Israel, they say that I do everything he wants me to do," Netanyahu said. “Well, neither is true. We’re leaders of independent and proud countries. We stand for our interests. I stand for the interests of Israel and for its security," he added. Netanyahu also said that while he and Trump often agree on major issues, there are occasions when their views differ. However, he stressed that the relationship between the two leaders is based on mutual respect.

“And often we see eye to eye. Sometimes we don’t. But we respect each other’s sovereignty and leadership and commitment to our people," he said. According to AFP, Netanyahu also said that no political developments would alter Israel’s position on the issue. “And with regard to Iran, whatever political developments may unfold, I will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. As long as I serve as Prime Minister of Israel, that will not happen," he said. Later on Sunday, Netanyahu again claimed that the Middle East conflict had helped remove what he described as an existential threat posed by Iran. “We prevented Iran from carrying out a plan to annihilate us, and today they would have had an atomic bomb to do so," he said at a public event, according to AFP. “We prevented that from happening. We removed the existential danger. Had we not acted. Iran would have had atomic bombs, and let me tell you something, they would have used them." Netanyahu further argued that joint US-Israeli actions had significantly weakened Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. He said the campaign had inflicted damage from which the force might “not recover for a long time".