Topline<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump said Israel abides by his wishes and that he has to keep Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu \u201csane\u201d\u2014the latest example of Trump attempting to assert dominance over Israel as its top officials have widely criticized his Iran deal. <\/p>\n
President Donald Trump speaks to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ben Gurion International Airport on October 13, 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Getty ImagesKey Facts<\/p>\n
Trump insisted in an interview with Axios<\/a> published Friday that his relationship with Netanyahu is \u201cgood, but we have to keep him a little bit sane.\u201d <\/p>\n He also insisted he could control Israel from attacking Lebanon, telling the outlet, \u201cThey have a lot of respect for me, and so they do as I say.\u201d <\/p>\n The comments were published shortly after Israel launched a wave of attacks against Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon overnight Thursday, killing at least 47 people, according to the Lebanese health ministry. <\/p>\n Hezbollah and Israel entered a new ceasefire agreement earlier Friday\u2014and Trump claimed to NBC<\/a> he asked Israel to agree to stop the fighting, though he wouldn\u2019t say whether he spoke with Netanyahu directly.<\/p>\n A day earlier, Vice President JD Vance, who led U.S. negotiations with Iran, chastised Israeli lawmakers who have rebuked the U.S. deal with Iran: \u201cIf I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Trump also repeated to Axios his previous claims that Israel wouldn\u2019t exist without him because he stopped Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and using it against Israel. <\/p>\n Tangent<\/p>\n Trump also told Axios he believes the Iran war proved his power has no limits, despite criticism that the deal with Iran didn\u2019t guarantee an end to Iran\u2019s nuclear program, Trump\u2019s key objective for starting the war. \u201cThere are no limits,\u201d he said when asked if the war tested his powers. Trump also said he struck a deal with Iran to prevent a global economic depression as Iran\u2019s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz choked the global oil supply. <\/p>\n Key Background<\/p>\n The U.S. and Iran cancelled a meeting planned for Friday in Switzerland to begin negotiating a final deal after signing a memorandum of understanding earlier in the week to end military hostilities. The agreement also required U.S. allies to cease fighting on all fronts, namely Lebanon. Netanyahu, however, has said Israel wasn\u2019t privy to the deal or beholden to its terms and has vowed a continued military presence in Lebanon. Iran backed out of Friday\u2019s talks after Israel attacked Hezbollah overnight Wednesday, three unnamed diplomats told The New York Times<\/a>. The dispute over Israel\u2019s presence in Lebanon has repeatedly stalled progress toward ending the conflict between the U.S. and Iran, angering Trump. In one tense phone call with Netanyahu earlier this month, Trump said<\/a> he told the Israeli prime minister he is \u201ccrazy\u201d and \u201ca little bit perturbed.\u201d On Sunday, as Trump and Iran were set to digitally sign the memorandum of understanding, Trump told Axios<\/a> he was \u201cso p—ed off\u201d at Netanyahu for striking Lebanon. \u201cI let him know. He has no f—king judgement. I let him know that,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n further reading<\/p>\n Trump Says Iran Is \u2018FINISHED\u2019 After Cancelled Negotiations \u2014 As Israeli Attacks Threaten Deal<\/a> (Forbes)<\/p>\n