Trump's Relationship With Netanyahu: From Harsh Criticism to Full Endorsement

U.S. President Donald Trump's stance towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently shown a striking political paradox with a series of sharp turns. After months of severe criticism regarding Netanyahu's military decisions, including accusations that he jeopardized negotiations with Iran, and despite a clear avoidance of political endorsement, Trump declared his full support for the Prime Minister just a week before Israel's elections. This zigzag, which began with Trump calling Netanyahu "crazy" in June and concluded with him praising him as a "great, great fighter" in October, raises the question of whether political considerations outweighed deep disagreements on war management and regional settlement.

A significant low point in their relationship occurred in June over Israeli activity in Lebanon, which coincided with U.S. contacts with Iran. In a heated phone call, details of which were revealed by Axios and later confirmed by Trump himself, the U.S. President harshly criticized ongoing Israeli strikes in Beirut. He called Netanyahu "crazy," used expletives, and demanded to know "What the hell are you doing?" Trump claimed, as he later detailed in a Fox News interview, that the deadly strikes occurred precisely when Washington was close to an agreement with Tehran. The U.S. objection was not to the military action itself or Israel's right to self-defense, but to the timing and its potential harm to the diplomatic process, on which Trump pinned hopes for a "long and beautiful peace."

This tension extended beyond the battlefield to Trump's assessment of Netanyahu's political conduct and relationship with the U.S. administration. In August, U.S. sources reported that Trump was losing patience with Netanyahu's policies and decisions, with two individuals quoting the President saying, "Bibi is his own worst enemy." This sentiment was evident during their meeting in the Oval Office in late July, when Netanyahu hesitated to answer Trump's question about his poll numbers, prompting an aide to interject that he was winning.

Disagreements also surfaced regarding the vision for the "day after" in Gaza. Netanyahu publicly rejected the U.S. initiative for the next phase of Trump's peace plan for Gaza, stating that Israeli withdrawal was out of the question before the dismantling of tunnels and the disarmament of Hamas. He also dismissed Trump's characterization of the plan as a "historic breakthrough," asserting in a cabinet meeting that Israel could stand by its principles even against its closest ally. While Trump sought a quick diplomatic achievement to end the war, Netanyahu insisted on security and political conditions he deemed essential.

As Israel's election date of October 27 approached, the tension shifted from political-security discussions to the Prime Minister's political future. In an early October Time magazine interview, Trump consistently refused to say whether the Israeli public should re-elect Netanyahu, offering a cool remark that he was "no longer involved in politics." However, within days, the situation changed dramatically. Nine days before the election, Trump posted on Truth Social, declaring unequivocal support for Netanyahu, calling him a "strong, tough, smart" leader and praising his firm stance against opposition elements. According to a Walla! report, a U.S. official revealed that Trump faced significant pressure from his close advisors and Israeli political figures to express his support. Some advisors warned Trump that endorsing Netanyahu could be politically damaging, especially given growing criticism in the U.S. right about the economic and human cost of the confrontation with Iran. The same official noted that Washington maintained contacts with associates of Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot, indicating the U.S. door remained open to other Israeli parties.