President Trump confirmed on Wednesday that he sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Lebanon during a tense call, as Axios first reported.
Why it matters: Trump's confirmation signals a widening divide between the two leaders, over both the fighting in Lebanon and the war with Iran.
What he's saying: Miranda Devine asked Trump on her New York Post podcast if he called Netanyahu "fucking crazy" and that he would be in prison if not for Trump.
- "I did," Trump replied.
- "I wouldn't say angry. I was a little bit perturbed at his constantly fighting with Lebanon, you know. At some point I said, 'Bibi, we've got to stop this. We gotta stop it,'" Trump added.
- He then mentioned he likes Netanyahu and has worked well with him.
The other side: In an interview with CNBC on Wednesday, Netanyahu was asked about the call and didn't deny any of the details in the Axios report but said it did not amount to a "crisis" in his relationship with Trump.
- "We have had a lot of conversations. If you think this is a crisis you should be at some other conversations... we have common goal. Sometime we have, like in the best of families, tactical disagreements. But we always find a way to work them out and we do so as great friends. We can disagree in the morning and by the afternoon we have common action," Netanyahu said.
- Netanyahu denied that there has been a "shift" in his relationship with Trump. "He has been the greatest president Israel has ever had in the White House. He respects me, I respect him. We always find a way to work out our differences," Netanyahu said.
- Asked whether Trump had told him he'd be in prison without his help, Netanyahu didn't deny it. He thanked Trump for his support over his corruption charges, which he called "fake and ridiculous."
Catch up quick: Trump lashed out at Netanyahu over Israel's escalation in Lebanon in an expletive-laden call Monday.
- The call came after Iran threatened to abandon negotiations with the U.S. over Israel's actions in Lebanon.
- U.S. officials said Trump told Netanyahu to stand down from plans to bomb Beirut, and he warned that such a move would further isolate Israel globally.
Behind the scenes: Summarizing Trump's remarks to Netanyahu, a U.S. official said: "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."
- A second source briefed on the call said Trump was "pissed" and at one point yelled at Netanyahu: "What the fuck are you doing?"
- After the call, Netanyahu aborted the plan to bomb Beirut, and Trump announced a new ceasefire.
