Trump mocks Bibi’s endorsement as public rift over Iran deal, Lebanon widens
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President Donald Trump has signaled that he may support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the upcoming Israeli election, making a strong bid as he has been at odds with the Israeli leader publicly over tensions in Iran and Lebanon.
“I will have to look at who is running, but I like Bibi a lot. I might endorse him,” Trump said in an interview with Israeli public broadcaster KAN News, using the nickname of Netanyahu, the Jerusalem Post reported on Thursday.
“But I need to see who’s running,” Trump said. “I have a good relationship with Bibi, but she has to be smart. I’m willing to meet her. She’s doing a great job; she has to be a little smarter.”
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President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he arrives at the White House in Washington, DC, on September 29, 2025. (Wina McNamee/Getty Images)
The comments came as Trump sharply criticized his long-time political ally, and the US has stepped up diplomatic ties in the Middle East involving Iran and Lebanon.
Axios reported earlier this month that Trump lashed out at Netanyahu when he spoke about Israel’s actions in Lebanon, with a US official summarizing Trump’s message by calling the Israeli leader “crazy.” Trump later confirmed in an interview on the New York Post’s “Pod Force One” podcast that he made the remarks, while saying he liked Netanyahu and worked “very well” with him.
Tensions flared again after an Israeli strike in Beirut nearly disrupted the signing of the US-Iran deal. Trump told Axios he was “very upset” about the strike and said Netanyahu had “no summary judgment,” while insisting the Iran deal still stands.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with soldiers at the Israel-Lebanon border. (Haim Tzach/Office of the Prime Minister of Israel)
On Wednesday, Trump described the latest rift between himself and Netanyahu as a “little dispute” over Lebanon and suggested that the Israeli leader “gets a little happy sometimes,” according to the report.
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“I say you can touch it a little bit, maybe you don’t need to tear down a building every time a member of Hezbollah walks into it,” Trump said Wednesday of the Israeli leader.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu has also highlighted his relationship with Trump in an official speech, calling him “our best friend” and “my friend,” and saying the two leaders “talk almost every day” and “make a decision.”[e] together,” according to a statement issued by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.
Vice President JD Vance expressed concern about Iran in an interview with the New York Times published on Thursday, saying the US will not lift sanctions if Tehran continues to fund terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah.
“They think everything that’s supposed to be good about Iran is going to happen — but that’s going to happen without the Iranians changing any behavior,” Vance said, referring to what he described as “strange panic” in Israel about the Iran deal.
Vice President JD Vance speaks at the 20th annual National House of Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC, on Feb. 28, 2025. (TING SHEN/AFP via Getty Images)
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“That’s not how the deal is written,” Vance added.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House and the Israeli embassy for comment.
