Washington, June 18 — US President Donald Trump has privately described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “very difficult to manage,” according to a report by The Wall Street Journal, which cited individuals familiar with the discussions.
The report said Trump, in private conversations with close advisers, expressed frustration over Netanyahu’s approach, suggesting that the Israeli leader often favours military solutions to address complex political and security challenges.
At the same time, Trump told The Wall Street Journal that he personally likes Netanyahu and considers him a “great guy,” while also noting that the Israeli premier sometimes allows emotions to drive decisions beyond what is necessary.
A senior US administration official was quoted as saying that phone conversations between Trump and Netanyahu frequently revolved around proposals for new military operations or escalated actions. According to the official, the repetitive nature of such discussions gradually contributed to growing fatigue on the US president’s side.
The official added that Netanyahu often attempted to persuade Trump by presenting detailed Israeli intelligence assessments and arguing in favour of timely strikes on specific targets. Trump, however, was said to have listened carefully but remained cautious about immediate escalation.
The report further described White House interactions between the two leaders as largely consistent in tone, with Israel’s increasingly assertive military posture frequently shaping the dialogue.
Source: The Wall Street Journal, Middle East Eye