Trump says he is likely to back Netanyahu, but only after seeing who runs

US President Donald Trump told Kan News on Thursday that it is “very likely” he will support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the upcoming election. Trump added, “But I need to see who is running. I have a good relationship with Bibi, but he needs to be more rational. I am ready to meet with him.”

The comments came as The Wall Street Journal reported new details about increasingly strained conversations between Trump and Netanyahu, saying the exchanges are no longer as friendly as they once were. The report said the tension has grown in the wake of the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran.

According to one source familiar with a phone call between the two, Trump confronted Netanyahu over the destruction in Lebanon, saying, “Why are you blowing up buildings? Stop blowing up buildings.” Trump also compared the damage to the global economy caused by the war to the Great Depression of the 1930s.

The Journal said the two leaders also argued over how to handle Iran’s nuclear issue in the US-Iran memorandum of understanding. In one conversation, Netanyahu reportedly asked Trump, “Donald, how are you going to make sure of that?” when discussing the Iranian nuclear program. In other calls, Netanyahu raised historical reasons not to trust the Iranians.

The paper also quoted Trump telling aides that nobody can deal with Netanyahu and that he wanted to “bomb everybody.” In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump said Netanyahu is “great,” but “sometimes he overdoes it.” A senior US administration official said Netanyahu usually urges Trump to act more militarily, and Trump has grown tired of it.