President Donald Trump said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can apply a "softer touch" during operations against Iranian-backed terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon.
President Donald Trump signaled he is likely to back Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel’s upcoming elections, dangling a potentially powerful endorsement even as he has been at odds with the Israeli leader publicly over the tensions in Iran and Lebanon.
"I’ll have to look at who’s running, but I like Bibi very much. I would be most likely to endorse him," Trump said in an interview with Israeli public broadcaster KAN News, using Netanyahu’s nickname, the Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.
"But I need to see who is running," Trump added. "I have a good relationship with Bibi, but he needs to be more rational. I am willing to meet with him. He’s doing a very good job; he’s got to be a little bit more rational."
'BIBI'S HAIR ON FIRE': TRUMP-NETANYAHU PUBLIC 'RIFT' MASKED UNIFIED FRONT AGAINST IRAN, ANALYST SAYS
President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he arrives at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 29, 2025. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
The remarks came as Trump has offered increasingly pointed criticism of his longtime political ally, while the U.S. pushes ahead with Middle East diplomacy involving Iran and Lebanon.
Axios reported earlier this month that Trump lashed out at Netanyahu during a call over Israel’s actions in Lebanon, with one U.S. official summarizing Trump’s message as calling the Israeli leader "f—ing crazy." Trump later confirmed in an interview on the New York Post’s "Pod Force One" podcast that he made the remark, while also saying he likes Netanyahu and works "very well" with him.
The tensions flared again after an Israeli strike in Beirut nearly complicated the sign
