Trump says he gave Israel a copy of the Iran deal

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday evening that he gave Israel a copy of the memorandum of understanding on the Iran nuclear agreement. Speaking about the deal and his ties with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said Netanyahu’s aides are “good people” and described Netanyahu as “a very good man” who gets “a little excited sometimes.”

Trump said the two had worked together “amazing[ly]” and called Netanyahu “an amazing prime minister.” He added that they have “a little dispute in Lebanon,” saying he tells Netanyahu, “Can you be a little softer, my friend? You do not need to destroy a building every time somebody says something,” before repeating that Netanyahu is a “good man.”

Trump also recounted Netanyahu’s opposition to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal under President Barack Obama, saying Netanyahu begged Obama not to sign it and warned it could mean “the end of Israel.” According to Trump, Obama did not listen, Netanyahu later went to Congress for help and got no results, and the resulting agreement was “terrible” and “terrible for Israel.” Trump said he later “finished the deal” himself, with very little time left.