"What the f*** are you doing?": Trump blasts Netanyahu in call over Lebanon strikes, says report
Washington, DC, June 2
US President Donald Trump lashed out at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a heated telephone conversation on Monday, holding the Israeli leader responsible for generating global animosity towards his nation, Axios reported.
The confrontation was triggered after Iran issued a warning earlier that day, threatening to halt diplomatic engagements with Washington over ongoing military actions in Lebanon. This prompted an aggressive intervention from the US President, who at one point yelled at Netanyahu, "What the f*** are you doing?"
According to a US official cited by Axios, Trump expressed immense frustration over what he perceived as a disproportionate military response to Hezbollah's strikes on Israel.
The report noted that the US President strongly objected to the destruction of entire buildings to target an individual Hezbollah commander, whilst also taking issue with Tel Aviv's escalating threats against Beirut.
Another source privy to the discussion summarised part of Trump's comments as "everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this," Axios reported.
Following the volatile exchange, Netanyahu's office released a statement asserting that Israel's position "remains the same".
However, a US official told Axios that Trump had actually "steamrolled" the Israeli Prime Minister during the call.
Axios quoted the official as saying, "Bibi said, 'OK, OK, just make sure everything is taken care of.'"
An additional administration official remarked that the interaction stood out as one of Trump's worst calls with Netanyahu since the commencement of his second presidential term.
In the wake of the diplomatic showdown, Trump took to social media to outline the immediate fallout of his intervention.
In a post on Truth Social, the US President announced that Netanyahu had "turned his Troops around" after he explicitly asked the Israeli leader "not to go into a major raid of Beirut".
Demonstrating his intent to keep the broader Middle East diplomatic track alive despite the friction, Trump wrote in a subsequent post that talks were continuing "at a rapid pace" with Iran.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As an American living in Mumbai for work, this is wild. Trump's always been unpredictable, but cursing out an ally on a call? That's next-level. Meanwhile, Hezbollah and Iran are playing chess while Israel and US bicker. Reminds me of our own domestic squabbles back home, except with more bombs.
Yaar, this is peak Trump. He's like the boss who screams at you in front of clients but then spins it as "tough love." And Netanyahu's "OK, OK, just make sure everything is taken care of" is the most desi "ji, haan ji" response ever. But seriously, the human cost in Lebanon—India should push for peace talks.
I'm not siding with anyone here, but Trump's "everybody hates you now" line cuts deep. Israel's strategy is alienating even its biggest ally. As Indians, we see this in our own neighborhood—when you overplay your hand, you lose friends. US and Iran talking behind the scenes? Classic realpolitik. 🇮🇳
From a UK perspective, this is exactly why we tread carefully in the Middle East. Trump shouting "What the f*** are you doing?" is undiplomatic but honest. But let's not forget—Netanyahu's office says nothing changed. Typical political spin. India's done this too: smile for cameras, but keep doing your own thing.
Trump's Truth Social claim that Netanyahu "turned his Troops around" is giving me "I did that" vibes—pure PR. But the real story is Iran-U.S
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