Prime Minister Netanyahu told ABC News Thursday morning that there are two competing narratives about his relationship with President Trump — that Trump does everything Netanyahu says, and that Netanyahu does everything Trump says. Netanyahu called the two leaders 'partners' and said Trump is the senior partner, but stressed that he stands up for Israel's interests when necessary.
Prime Minister Netanyahu elaborated on his relationship with President Trump in a full ABC News interview Thursday morning, responding directly to Trump's earlier characterization of who 'the boss' is. Netanyahu said that in the US, people sometimes say Trump does everything Netanyahu tells him, while in Israel, people sometimes say Netanyahu does everything Trump tells him. He called the two leaders 'partners' and described Trump as the senior partner, but emphasized that he, as Israel's prime minister, stands up for his country's interests and security.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Thursday (09:21), Netanyahu had already stated that Trump is the senior partner but that he defends Israel's interests. The new transcript provides the full context of the exchange, including the competing narratives.
The interview is the latest in a series of public exchanges between the two leaders. Earlier this month, President Trump told Axios that Netanyahu 'knows who the boss is,' and Netanyahu responded in subsequent interviews by asserting his independence. The relationship has been closely watched amid ongoing US-Iran negotiations and regional tensions.
2 developments
- StrongNetanyahu: Trump is US president, I am Israel's PM — I stand up for our interests
- DevelopingTrump says he gets along 'well' with Netanyahu but sometimes disagrees and makes it clear
- DevelopingNetanyahu denies strained relationship with Trump, says 'the president has his way of expressing things'
- DevelopingNetanyahu and Trump ‘fully coordinated’ amid US strikes on Iran, PM's office source says
Source and signal
- Open-source intake