Trump Outburst Directed at Netanyahu
US President Donald Trump has reportedly lashed out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing Netanyahu’s actions in Lebanon as ‘crazy’.
According to reports from Axios on Tuesday (2/6/2026), two US officials and a third source stated that Trump expressed his fury during a telephone conversation on Monday (1/6) local time. Trump was reportedly incensed by the Israeli military’s increased attacks in Lebanon. The President’s anger stems from concerns that Israel’s operations against the Hezbollah militia group in Lebanon risk undermining US diplomacy with Iran and damaging efforts to maintain a fragile regional ceasefire.
‘You are fucking crazy. What are you doing?’ Trump reportedly exclaimed to Netanyahu, according to the report. Trump made these remarks after learning of the Israeli military actions in Lebanon. Axios also reported that Trump touched upon the legal issues currently facing Netanyahu during the call. Trump reminded the Israeli Prime Minister that he had openly defended Netanyahu and sought to assist him politically. This outburst occurred after Trump had previously stated that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to cease fighting.
Trump also noted that discussions with Iran are continuing following a deadlock caused by the Israeli attacks in Lebanon. According to AFP and Anadolu Agency, Trump stated on social media that Netanyahu had promised not to deploy troops to the southern outskirts of Beirut as previously threatened, while Hezbollah had agreed that ‘all shooting would stop’.
These comments follow reports from the Iranian news agency, Tasnim, stating that Tehran has suspended dialogue with mediators as a protest against the expansion of Israeli attacks in Lebanon against its ally, Hezbollah. ‘I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of Israel, and no troops will be going to Beirut, and any troops that were on their way have been sent back,’ Trump wrote. ‘Similarly, through high-ranking representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting would stop—that Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel.’
In a separate post minutes later, Trump stated that ‘negotiations continue, rapidly, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Thank you for your attention to this matter!’.
Despite Trump’s claims of having persuaded both parties to halt fighting, Netanyahu remains adamant that the military will continue its strikes in southern Lebanon, claiming they target Hezbollah militants. ‘I spoke tonight with President Trump and told him that if Hezbollah does not stop attacking our cities and our citizens, Israel will strike terror targets in Beirut,’ Netanyahu said in a statement reported by Yedioth Ahronoth and Anadolu Agency. ‘Our position remains unchanged. At the same time, the military will continue to operate as planned in southern Lebanon.’
Israeli media previously reported that the telephone conversation took place amidst the escalation of Israeli military operations in Lebanon and hours after Netanyahu ordered airstrikes in Beirut. The Israeli public broadcaster, KAN, reported that Tel Aviv had originally planned to bomb the southern outskirts of Beirut on Monday morning but decided to delay the operation due to US intervention.
The Israeli military escalation in Lebanon has triggered stern warnings from Iran, an ally of Hezbollah. Mohsen Rezaei, an advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, warned Israel that further escalation in Lebanon ‘will not be tolerated’. In a post on the social media platform X, Rezaei asserted that ‘the patience of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran has limits’.