Trump Claims Israel Would Be 'Utterly Destroyed' Without His Support
US President Donald Trump has issued a warning to Israel, claiming that the nation would be ‘destroyed’ without his support. Trump also stated that Washington must keep Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ‘sane’ regarding the issue in Lebanon, while claiming he maintains a good relationship with him.
In an interview with Axios, as reported by Anadolu Agency and the New York Post on Saturday (20/06/202/6), Trump asserted that he can control Israel’s military actions in Lebanon because officials in Tel Aviv ‘do what I say.’
In the interview published on Friday (19/06), Trump criticised his allies, stating he has lost respect for the ‘hardliners’ in Israel who want continued warfare against Iran. Trump emphasised US military superiority, noting that Washington provides the ‘weapons’ and ‘bombers.’ He went as far as to claim that without his support, Israel would be ‘destroyed.’
“If it were not for Donald Trump—and Bibi Netanyahu and I work well together, but he will tell you, we are the ones with the weapons, we are the ones with the whole deal, we are the ones with the B-2 bombers, and so on,” Trump told Axios reporter Mark Caputo. “If it were not for Donald Trump, Israel would be destroyed,” Trump stated warningly.
This statement echoes Trump’s comments from earlier this week, where he asserted: “Without the United States, there would be no Israel.” When asked if he could prevent Israel from attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon to maintain a peace deal with Iran, Trump insisted: “Yes, I would be able to do it. They respect me very much, and they do what I say.”
Trump’s remarks coincide with the announcement of a ceasefire extension between Israel and Hezbollah, which took effect on Friday (19/06) afternoon. However, Israel continues to carry out strikes in Lebanese territory, claiming to target Hezbollah.
Earlier this week, Trump suggested that Netanyahu adopt a “softer approach” in Lebanon, reminding him that Israel does not need to “knock down every building every time someone from Hezbollah enters it,” referring to the frequent Israeli bombings in Lebanese residential areas.
Israeli Defence Minister Rejects US Criticism
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz asserted that “no one can tell us what to do” following the wave of US criticism directed at Tel Aviv officials who reject the US-Iran peace deal. In an interview with Israel’s Channel 14, as reported by Middle East Monitor on Saturday (20/06/2026), Katz warned that Israel would respond with force if attacked by Iran.
“If Iran attacks us, we will act immediately and respond with force. No one can tell us what to do, and we have proven that,” Katz stated. He added that all capabilities are being built and that Israel can “respond immediately or act later.”
Katz emphasised that Israel is capable of fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon, jihadists in Syria, and Hamas in the Gaza Strip on its own. “We never asked the US to fight with us against Hezbollah in Lebanon, against jihadist elements in Syria, or against Hamas in Gaza. We do it ourselves,” Katz said.
“We expect, and still expect, that the US will support our right and provide us with a diplomatic umbrella, not a military umbrella, to act against all these enemies. In Lebanon, in Syria, and in Gaza, we will not move from the security zone. Not in Syria, not in Gaza, and not in Lebanon; we will not leave that place under any circumstances,” Katz insisted.
These statements come days after the US and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to end fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon. Israeli officials have criticised the decision and vowed not to comply with the terms of the agreement.
Tel Aviv’s refusal drew a sharp response from US Vice President JD Vance, who criticised officials in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Vance warned Tel Aviv that Washington remains their “only strong ally” left in the world. “If I were in the Israeli government cabinet, I might not attack the only strong ally I have in the entire world,” the US Vice President stated sternly.