Trump says Netanyahu ‘will do whatever I want’ as Iran tensions escalate

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump, on Wednesday, May 20, claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will “do whatever I want him to do” while discussing rising tensions with Iran and joked that he was popular enough in Israel to potentially “run for prime minister.”

The comments came as the commander-in-chief departed Washington for the US Coast Guard Academy commencement ceremony in Connecticut, where reporters pressed him about his recent conversation with Netanyahu and the rapidly escalating situation involving Iran.

Trump’s remarks also arrived just one day after he revealed he had been “an hour away” from ordering military strikes against Iran before pausing after Gulf allies reportedly suggested a diplomatic agreement could still happen. 

Trump praises Netanyahu during Iran questions

While speaking to reporters, Trump repeatedly praised Netanyahu and described the Israeli leader as someone he trusted completely amid the current tensions involving Iran.

“He's fine. He'll do whatever I want him to do,” Trump said when asked about Netanyahu. “He's a very good man.”

“He'll do whatever I want him to, and he's a great guy. To me, he's a great guy,” the Republican leader added.

The president also defended Netanyahu personally and argued that the Israeli prime minister was not receiving fair treatment in his own country despite leading Israel during a time of conflict.

“Don't forget, he was a wartime prime minister,” Trump said. “And he's not treated right in Israel, in my opinion.”

Trump jokes he could run for prime minister in Israel

Trump then shifted the conversation toward his own popularity inside Israel and joked about the possibility of entering Israeli politics himself.

“I'm right now at 99% in Israel,” Trump told reporters. “I could run for prime minister, so maybe after I do this, I'll go to Israel, run for prime minister.”

“I had a poll this morning, I'm 99%. So that's good,” he added.

Trump also appeared to criticize political leadership inside Israel while discussing Netanyahu’s situation.

“I think they have a president over there that treats him very poorly,” he said.

During the exchange, one reporter directly asked Trump whether he and Netanyahu remained aligned on how to deal with Iran as tensions continue rising in the region.

“Yeah, yeah,” the 79-year-old president responded.

Trump warns Iran faces ‘nasty’ consequences if nuclear deal fails

Trump's comments about Netanyahu came during a critical moment as concerns continue growing over possible military action involving Iran.

He himself suggested the US was entering a decisive phase in the standoff.

“We’re in the final stages of Iran. We’ll see what happens,” Trump said. “Either have a deal, or we’re going to do some things that are a little bit nasty.”

The president also insisted he was not rushing toward military action despite the increasingly tense rhetoric.

“We’re going to give this one shot,” Trump said. “I’m in no hurry.”

Later on Wednesday, Trump reportedly claimed that Iran’s air force and navy had effectively been destroyed and warned Tehran that any future military action could become even more severe if a deal was not reached.

At the same time, diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran are reportedly continuing behind the scenes.