President Donald Trump reportedly engaged in a heated phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the White House worked to preserve a fragile ceasefire in Lebanon amid renewed regional tensions involving Israel, Hezbollah, Iran, and U.S. forces, as reported [1] by Zero Hedge.
According to an Axios report cited Monday, Trump expressed frustration with Israeli military actions and urged Netanyahu not to expand operations into Beirut. The report, citing unnamed U.S. officials and sources briefed on the conversation, claimed Trump delivered unusually blunt remarks during the exchange.
One U.S. official told Axios that Trump warned Netanyahu that further military action against Lebanon’s capital could further isolate Israel internationally.
According to the report, Trump told Netanyahu, “You’re fucking crazy,” and later added, “I’m saving your ass.”
Axios also reported that Trump referenced Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial and told the Israeli leader, “You’re fucking crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.”
Another source briefed on the call told Axios that Trump was “pissed” and at one point asked Netanyahu, “What the fuck are you doing?”
The same report claimed Trump ultimately “steamrolled” Netanyahu during the conversation. According to a U.S. official cited by Axios, Netanyahu responded by saying, “OK, OK, just make sure everything is taken care of.”
The reported exchange came as Trump announced progress toward a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Following a series of phone calls with regional leaders, Trump said the “shooting will stop” in Lebanon.
The Lebanese presidency later announced that Hezbollah had agreed to a U.S.-backed proposal calling for a mutual cessation of attacks across Lebanese territory.
Despite the announcement, reports of continued fighting surfaced Monday. Sirens sounded in the Israeli border community of Metula following what was described as an apparent Hezbollah rocket attack. The incident occurred after Trump publicly declared that Hezbollah would halt attacks as part of the ceasefire arrangement.
Meanwhile, tensions involving Iran continued to complicate diplomatic efforts.
Iranian state media reported that Tehran had halted exchanges and communications with the United States in protest over Israel’s military operations in Lebanon. Iranian officials argued that any broader agreement involving the United States must include a resolution to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Iranian negotiators accused the United States of violating ceasefire understandings by maintaining a naval blockade and supporting Israeli military actions.
Iranian Parliament Speaker and negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X that “the naval blockade and escalation of war crimes in Lebanon” were “clear evidence of US noncompliance with the ceasefire.”
Despite Iranian statements suggesting talks had stopped, Trump disputed reports that negotiations had ended.
Speaking to NBC News, Trump said, “I think we’ve been talking too much if you want to know the truth, going silent would be very good.”
He added, “We’ll keep the blockade.”
“I think I can wait as long as they want. They’re losing a fortune,” Trump said.
In comments to CNBC, Trump also dismissed concerns about the status of negotiations.
“I don’t care if they’re over, honestly.”
“I really don’t care,” he added.
Trump further predicted oil prices would decline despite concerns surrounding Iran’s threats regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
“I think the oil will be dropping like a rock in the very near, you know, the very near distance,” he said.
The situation remained volatile throughout Monday. U.S. Central Command confirmed that American forces intercepted two Iranian ballistic missiles targeting U.S. personnel in Kuwait. CENTCOM said no American service members were injured.
The United States also confirmed recent strikes on Iranian radar and command-and-control facilities after Iran allegedly shot down a U.S. drone over the weekend.
As diplomatic negotiations continued, Trump projected confidence about the outcome. In a Truth Social post, he wrote, “Just sit back and relax, it will all work out well in the end – It always does!”
The Lebanon ceasefire, ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations, and broader regional security situation remain under close scrutiny as officials attempt to prevent the conflict from expanding further across the Middle East.