Trump says he must keep Netanyahu 'a little bit sane' amid tensions over Iran deal

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said he has to keep Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “a little bit sane” as he publicly asserted he can control Israel’s actions despite growing strains over his Iran peace effort.

The remark underscored increasingly visible tensions between the longtime allies. It also came as Trump defended a fragile Iran agreement that some supporters of the conflict have criticized as too lenient.

Trump insists Israel follows his lead

Speaking to Axios reporter Mark Caputo in an interview released on Friday, June 19, Trump argued that Israel's position had been strengthened by US support and suggested Netanyahu recognizes that reality.

“If it weren’t for Donald Trump — and Bibi Netanyahu worked well with me, but he will tell you, we’re the ones with the guns, we’re the ones with the whole deal, we’re the ones with the B-2 bombers, etc.,” Trump said.

“If it weren’t for Donald Trump, Israel would have been eviscerated,” he insisted.

Asked whether he could stop Israel from attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon and jeopardizing a preliminary peace arrangement with Iran, Trump answered unequivocally.

“Yeah, I will be,” he said. “They have a lot of respect for me, and they do as I say.”

A key provision of the memorandum of understanding with Iran calls for fighting to stop across multiple fronts, including Lebanon.

Iran has publicly said it would not participate in an initial round of peace talks while clashes between Israel and Hezbollah continued.

That concern was significant enough for the Trump administration to postpone Vice President JD Vance's planned Switzerland trip, which was intended for a new round of negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program. 

Trump takes aim at Iran war hardliners

Trump also used the interview to criticize advocates of continued military confrontation with Iran.

“The stock market’s up thousands of points. Everybody’s richer. Now, would you rather have that, or be like some stupid people?” he said.

“I lost respect for some people … you know, hardliners, ‘Oh, I’m going to take them out,’” Trump added, declining to identify those he was referring to. 

The president said economic stability was one reason he wanted the agreement preserved.

“Plus, I’m not looking to kill people. I have one primary wish, as president, in terms of people. I never want to be the late, great Herbert Hoover,” Trump said. “This is the kind of thing that could cause a worldwide depression.”

Netanyahu's actions complicate Trump's peace push

Trump's comments followed several recent episodes that exposed friction between the two leaders.

Earlier this month, Trump confirmed he had called Netanyahu “f***ing crazy” during a tense conversation after Israeli strikes against targets in southern Lebanon.

At the beginning of June, Trump said he had secured an agreement for Israel and Hezbollah to stop fighting, but exchanges of fire continued afterward.

Last week, Trump publicly urged Israel not to retaliate against Iranian attacks, yet Netanyahu proceeded anyway.

The pressure campaign expanded when Vance warned Israel officials against opposing the agreement.

“If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world,” Vance said.

“The problem for Israel is not Donald J Trump, and anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the president of the United States needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in,” the vice president stated.