President Donald Trump indicated that he may support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the upcoming elections, despite ongoing public disagreements regarding issues in Iran and Lebanon. In an interview with Israeli public broadcaster KAN News, Trump stated, "I’ll have to look at who’s running, but I like Bibi very much. I would be most likely to endorse him." He added that while he has a good relationship with Netanyahu, he believes the Prime Minister needs to be "more rational."
Trump's comments come amid increasing criticism of Netanyahu, particularly regarding Israel's actions in Lebanon. Reports indicate that Trump expressed frustration during a call with Netanyahu, referring to him as "f---ing crazy" in relation to recent military actions. Trump later confirmed this remark but maintained that he works well with Netanyahu.
Tensions escalated following an Israeli strike in Beirut, which Trump described as a significant concern, stating he was "so pissed off" about the incident. He characterized the disagreements with Netanyahu as a "little dispute" and suggested that the Israeli leader sometimes "gets a little excited."
Netanyahu, for his part, has emphasized his friendship with Trump, describing him as "our great friend" and noting their frequent communication. Vice President JD Vance also commented on U.S.-Iran relations, stating that sanctions would not be lifted if Iran continues to support terrorist organizations like Hezbollah. Vance expressed that there is a misunderstanding in Israel regarding the Iran deal, asserting that positive outcomes for Iran would not occur without a change in behavior from Tehran.