BEIRUT (AP) — President Donald Trump in an interview released Wednesday confirmed an earlier report that he criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “crazy” in a Monday phone call, saying he was “a little bit perturbed” that Israel’s fighting of Hezbollah in Lebanon was holding back peace talks with Iran.
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But even as the U.S. president acknowledged the tensions, he insisted that his relationship with Netanyahu was solid and they connected, in part, because they’re both “wartime” leaders.
“We’ve worked very well together. I like Bibi a lot. And I work very well with him,” Trump told The New York Post’s “Pod Force One.”
The president’s acknowledgement of the tense call with Netanyahu that involved expletives is a sign of the growing pressure he faces to resolve the Iran war, as higher energy prices and economic uncertainty are harming Republicans going into midterm elections and hampering global commerce.
Trump on Axios report that he told Netanyahu “you’re f*cking crazy”:
I did. I always get angry.
I was a little bit perturbed at him, constantly fighting with Lebanon….
You know, at some point I said we’re going to stop this. pic.twitter.com/4c6Tpo1GkZ
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 3, 2026
But Trump remained noncommittal about a timeline for settling the conflict, saying the Strait of Hormuz might stay blocked through the Labor Day holiday on Sept. 7. He has insisted that Iran stop any efforts that could lead to a nuclear weapon and that the strait be reopened for the shipments of oil and natural gas.
“I don’t know. I mean, I think it could be (closed through Labor Day), but I think it’s unlikely. I think that we’ll have it. I think this will resolve itself fairly quickly,” Trump said.
The U.S. president added that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his late father, is “involved” in peace talks for ending the war.
“They have a lot of respect for him,” Trump said in the interview with “Pod Force One.”
Trump said that Khamenei is not doing well due to injuries sustained in an airstrike, but “they say he’s giving approval because that’s the way it has been for a long, long time.” Khamenei’s father was killed as part of airstrikes when the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran at the end of March.
Still, the path toward a durable ceasefire remained unclear as hostilities continued in Lebanon.
So now it’s Israel’s fault that the war with Iran is continuing. Not the Iranian’s.
Amazing how everyone at the end falls into the Muslim’s trap.
Just for the record they never call a Jew who’s not afraid to fight back and stand up for himself a tough Jew.. they always call the Jew crazy who is not afraid to fight back never tough but crazy. Because how could it be that this poor little Jew actually has the audacity to fight back
Vance’s odor is wafting.
So Trump himself confirms his vile, foul language call to Bibi (melech Yisroel). Axios had it 100% correct – and now Trump even adds to the mayhem saying Israel “wouldn’t exist” without him! What about HaShem?
Wonder who is the crazy one …
Trump is trying to do what he feels is best for the USA, Mr Netanyahu is trying to keep the course for what he feels is best for Israel, unfortunately the two may not be the same!
People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
At the end of the day you can’t fully win any war unless you nuke the other side and wipe out cities. This is true for close to 100 years and surely in 2026 when little tiny toy drones can do the job. Hamas, hezbollah, the talbain , Hotuhis, Iran all ain’t going away and you can’t fully beat them. So does that mean never fight a war? No. But it means the most that a war can accomplish is to weaken the other side vs a total defeat or surrender. The debate becomes at what point is it worth that extra effort to weaken them and how much do you gainZ? Obvously israel and America have different equations too. But lets stop this nonsense talk, that trump is burying Israel or that its some big fight. Thats all silly shallow talk. Its deeper debate when excatly to stop and pull out. And we both still very much on the same side. We still owe Trump a huge thanks for having our back
Trump has gotten played by the Persians. The big tough guy just had his lunch money taken from him and he does nothing about it. He’s allowed the Iranians to dictate all terms
same ole same ole….Trump has no interest in continuing this…he will gladly walk away with his tail tucked between his legs…tough luck for Netanyahu who needs war to maintain his office