Trump erupted at Netanyahu over Lebanon offensive expansion, warning it was derailing Iran negotiations; the rift between Washington and Jerusalem is back in the open

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on May 27. [Reuters]
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on May 27. [Reuters]

By Seo Ji-yeon, The Herald Business

Donald Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a profanity-laced tirade and sharply rebuked him, sources said, as Israel's expanding offensive in Lebanon threatened to unravel U.S.-Iran negotiations — exposing deep private frustration behind Washington's public posture of alliance.

Axios reported Sunday, citing multiple sources, that Trump erupted at Netanyahu during a call on May 28, demanding to know "what the hell are you doing."

According to sources, Trump told Netanyahu during the call that he "would be in jail" if not for him — a pointed reference to the political support Trump has extended to the prime minister, who is currently standing trial on corruption charges.

Trump also reportedly called Netanyahu "crazy" and "ungrateful" during the exchange.

One official described it as the most hostile call between the two leaders since Trump returned to office.

At the heart of the confrontation was the state of U.S.-Iran negotiations.

The Trump administration had been exchanging draft memoranda of understanding with Iran in a push to clinch a deal to end the war. But Israel's intensified strikes against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group operating in Lebanon, began to destabilize those talks.

Iran declared that Israel's attacks on Lebanon constituted a violation of the truce agreement and halted its exchange of messages with the United States, Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported.

Trump was said to accept that Hezbollah had itself carried out attacks, but concluded that Israel was escalating its military operations beyond what was warranted.

Sources said Trump expressed particular alarm over a recent Israeli airstrike that leveled an entire building to eliminate a single Hezbollah commander, causing civilian casualties.

One official said Trump fumed that "everyone is going to hate Israel because of this."

Trump has since claimed personal credit for brokering a halt to the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, positioning himself as the one who stopped an escalation.

On Sunday, he posted on Truth Social that he had "a very productive call" with Netanyahu and that "there will be no Israeli troops heading to Beirut, and those that were on their way have already turned back."

He added that "Hezbollah has agreed to stop all shooting" and that "Israel will not attack, and Hezbollah will not attack."

Netanyahu, however, quickly sent a different message.

In a statement from his office, the prime minister reaffirmed his earlier position, warning that Israel "will strike terrorist targets in Beirut" if Hezbollah does not stop attacking Israeli cities and civilians.

He also stressed that Israeli forces "will continue to carry out operations in southern Lebanon as planned."

The divergence has sharpened what analysts describe as a widening gap between Washington's pursuit of an Iran deal and Israel's ongoing military campaign.


sjy@heraldcorp.com