A new book by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan says Donald Trump exploded at Benjamin Netanyahu during a tense phone call in September, days before the public announcement of the Gaza ceasefire deal. The book, "Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump," draws on Trump’s first year in his second term and describes unusually strained ties between the two leaders.
According to the book, the call took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly while Trump was pushing his 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza. Jared Kushner and White House envoy Steve Witkoff were also on the line. Trump reportedly told Netanyahu, "Everybody’s sick of you, Bibi," adding, "All the Jews are sick of you. Even the two Jews on this call are sick of you." He also warned Netanyahu, "You cannot back out of this. I’m the best friend Israel’s ever had. Everybody hates you, and I stood by you. This is a great deal for Israel."
The book says the crisis began after an Israeli airstrike on September 9 targeted Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, one day after Kushner and Witkoff met Netanyahu aide Ron Dermer in Miami to discuss postwar plans for Gaza. Kushner and Witkoff later told White House officials, "Dermer lied to us." Qatar initially considered cutting aid to Israel, and Kushner was quoted saying, "I’m out. The Israelis are crazy." That anger helped push Kushner to draft what became Trump’s 20-point peace proposal.
A few days later, Kushner and Witkoff met Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, on the sidelines of the UN in New York. They gave him two choices, isolate Israel further or use the moment to pressure Israel into negotiations. Al Thani chose the second path and edited the draft on Kushner’s laptop. Trump showed the terms to Arab and Muslim leaders before Netanyahu saw them, and when Netanyahu later called, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles connected him to Trump, Kushner and Witkoff stayed on the line, and Trump lashed out.
Despite the confrontation, Netanyahu eventually agreed to the framework. Two days later, Trump and Netanyahu appeared together at a joint press conference. Trump said Netanyahu would receive "full backing" if Hamas refused to sign. The deal was finalized on the evening of October 8, and soon afterward 20 living hostages still held in Gaza were released.
