David Axelrod says Trump was ‘not wrong’ after lashing out at Benjamin Netanyahu in phone call

WASHINGTON, DC: Democratic strategist David Axelrod said President Donald Trump was “not wrong” after reports surfaced that the latter lashed out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a heated phone call over Israel’s military actions in Lebanon.

According to an Axios report published Monday, June 1, Trump and Netanyahu had a tense conversation in which the US president put the Israeli leader on blast as fighting continues in Lebanon. The conflict is unfolding alongside ongoing efforts by US and Iranian officials to negotiate an end to the war involving Iran, which began in February.

Iran has maintained that any agreement must include a halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon. Israel, however, launched another invasion in March. Furthermore, Netanyahu recently ramped up the campaign by ordering strikes in Beirut’s suburbs.

David Axelrod says Trump’s outburst reflects growing frustration

Citing two US officials familiar with the conversation, Axios reported that Trump erupted during the call.

“You’re f***ing crazy,” Trump reportedly told Netanyahu. “Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.”

Another source told the outlet that Trump was “pissed” and demanded of the Israeli leader, “What the f**k are you doing?”

The report quickly became a topic of discussion on CNN’s OutFront, where host Erin Burnett read portions of the article and asked Axelrod for his reaction.

“It doesn’t sound like a very friendly call,” Axelrod said. “Look, I think that the president, his analysis is not wrong. You know, Bibi Netanyahu has done tremendous damage, in my view, to Israel and to Israel’s standing in the world.”

Axelrod argued that Netanyahu’s actions have significantly harmed Israel’s international reputation and suggested that Trump’s frustration goes beyond the immediate military situation.

Netanyahu’s role in selling Iran strategy

Axelrod pointed to a New York Times report from April detailing a February 11 briefing Netanyahu gave to Trump and senior US officials in the White House Situation Room.

According to the report, Netanyahu presented Iran as vulnerable to regime change and argued that a sustained bombing campaign could help bring it about. Seventeen days later, the United States and Israel launched a joint bombing operation.

“Bibi had a lot to do with talking the president into thinking this was a good idea,” Axelrod said. “And that’s what he’s really mad about. What he’s mad about is Bibi has created a huge political problem for him because the economy is the thing that is on the minds of Americans, and he has made it worse. And he promised to make it better. And that was his calling card. He was Mr Economy, and now their costs are going up, and we’re mired in this war.”

Not long after the Axios report was published, Trump publicly revealed that he had urged Netanyahu to avoid a major military operation in Beirut.

“I asked him not to go into a major raid of Beirut,” Trump said.

“He turned his Troops around,” the president added.

Trump allies also clash with Netanyahu

The reported tension between Trump and Netanyahu comes as several of the President’s allies have also expressed concerns about the Israeli leader’s handling of the conflict.

Reports from March indicated that Vice President JD Vance and Netanyahu had their own strained phone conversation. Vance reportedly challenged Netanyahu over predictions he had made to Trump regarding the war.

“Before the war, Bibi really sold it to the President as being easy, as regime change being a lot likelier than it was,” one source told Axios. “And the VP was clear-eyed about some of those statements.” 

Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon has gone even further. During a March episode of his War Room podcast, Bannon argued that family members of regional leaders should be sent to the front lines before the United States commits additional troops.

He specifically targeted Netanyahu’s son, Yair Netanyahu, who is reported to be living in Florida.

“Throw in a couple of Qatar princes, throw the Saudi princes in there too. Get them out of London,” Bannon said.

“Netanyahu’s kid down in Miami? Turf him out tomorrow. Where’s DHS? We need him. Get him. Throw him out. Get him back there,” Bannon added. “Put a uniform on him. Let’s have him in the first wave.”