SouthernWorldwide.com – Former President Donald Trump has indicated a strong likelihood of endorsing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the upcoming Israeli elections. This potential endorsement comes despite recent public disagreements between the two leaders concerning tensions in Iran and Lebanon.
In an interview with Israeli public broadcaster KAN News, Trump stated, “I’ll have to look at who’s running, but I like Bibi very much. I would be most likely to endorse him.” He was referring to Netanyahu by his widely used nickname, “Bibi.”
Trump further elaborated on his conditions, saying, “But I need to see who is running. I have a good relationship with Bibi, but he needs to be more rational. I am willing to meet with him. He’s doing a very good job; he’s got to be a little bit more rational.”
These statements follow a period of increasingly critical remarks from Trump towards his long-time political ally. This has occurred concurrently with the U.S. government’s engagement in Middle East diplomacy, particularly concerning Iran and Lebanon.
Earlier this month, Axios reported that Trump had expressed significant anger towards Netanyahu during a phone call regarding Israel’s actions in Lebanon. One U.S. official reportedly summarized Trump’s sentiment as calling the Israeli leader “f—ing crazy.” Trump later confirmed making this remark in an interview on the “Pod Force One” podcast, though he also reiterated his positive relationship and effective working dynamic with Netanyahu.
The friction resurfaced after an Israeli strike in Beirut nearly jeopardized the signing of a U.S.-Iran deal. Trump informed Axios that he was “so pissed off” by the strike, describing Netanyahu’s judgment as lacking, yet he maintained that the Iran agreement was still on track.
On Wednesday, Trump characterized the recent strain in his relationship with Netanyahu as a “little dispute” stemming from the situation in Lebanon. He suggested that the Israeli leader “gets a little excited sometimes.”
“I say you can do a little softer touch, maybe you don’t need to bring down a building every time a Hezbollah member walks into it,” Trump added on Wednesday, offering his perspective on Netanyahu’s approach.
In contrast to Trump’s recent criticisms, Netanyahu has consistently emphasized his strong relationship with Trump in official statements. He has referred to Trump as “our great friend” and “my personal friend,” and has stated that they “speak almost every day” and “decide together,” according to releases from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance addressed concerns regarding Iran in an interview with The New York Times published on Thursday. Vance stated that the U.S. would not lift sanctions on Tehran if it continues to fund organizations like Hezbollah.
“They assume that everything that is contemplated that is good for Iran will happen — but that will happen without the Iranians changing any behavior,” Vance said, commenting on what he perceived as a “weird panic” in Israel concerning the Iran deal.
“That’s not how the deal is written,” Vance concluded.
