The Wall Street Journal reports that President Donald Trump complained to aides that Prime Minister Netanyahu is 'a great leader' but 'gets carried away' and 'wants to bomb everyone,' adding that no one can handle him. According to the report, after learning Trump plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with Iran, Netanyahu requested a meeting. During a phone call, Trump asked Netanyahu: 'Why are you blowing up buildings? Stop it.'
The Wall Street Journal's report, published Thursday morning, adds new detail to the escalating public and private tensions between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Citing unnamed aides, the Journal reports that Trump described Netanyahu as a 'great leader' who 'gets carried away' and 'wants to bomb everyone,' and complained that no one on his team can manage the Israeli prime minister.
The report states that Netanyahu requested a meeting with Trump after learning the president intends to sign a memorandum of understanding with Iran—a deal Netanyahu has publicly opposed. During a subsequent phone call between the two leaders, Trump asked Netanyahu directly: 'Why are you blowing up buildings? Stop it.' The remark reflects Trump’s reported displeasure with Israeli strikes in Lebanon, which he has said were not coordinated with Washington.
The Journal's account is the latest in a series of reports over the past week detailing unusually sharp exchanges between the two leaders. As The Zioneer previously reported, Trump told aides Netanyahu is 'a very difficult guy' (NYT, June 15), asked 'What the f— are you doing?' during a call (Amit Segal/N12, June 14), and told Netanyahu to be 'gentler' with Lebanon and to avoid demolishing buildings to target a single Hezbollah operative (June 17). The White House and Prime Minister’s Office have not commented on the Journal’s latest report.
3 developments
- StrongTrump tells Netanyahu he is determined to sign Iran agreement as deal talks accelerate
- DevelopingNetanyahu and Trump hold phone call amid Iran escalation
- DevelopingNetanyahu holds another call with Trump amid Iran crisis
- DevelopingTrump tells Netanyahu 'what the f--- are you doing' in phone call — reported by Amit Segal
Source and signal
- Internal intake