Despite Tense Relations with Israeli Prime Minister, Trump Says He Could Support Netanyahu

Articles | June 19, 2026 | by Catholics for Catholics

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But President Donald Trump leaves Netanyahu endorsement hanging with pointed warning ahead of crucial election.

By Catholics for Catholics

Despite having a rocky relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the last few weeks, President Donald Trump said he is prone to supporting him during Israel’s upcoming elections.

Trump and Netanyahu have been at odds recently over tensions with Iran and Lebanon, according to a story by Fox News.

“I’ll have to look at who’s running, but I like Bibi very much. I would be most likely to endorse him,” Trump said in an interview with Israeli public broadcaster KAN News, using Netanyahu’s nickname, the Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.

“But I need to see who is running,” Trump added. “I have a good relationship with Bibi, but he needs to be more rational. I am willing to meet with him. He’s doing a very good job; he’s got to be a little bit more rational.”

US President Donald Trump tells Axios that his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is “good, but we have to keep him a little bit… sane.” pic.twitter.com/GLhbcpf5Fg

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) June 19, 2026

The remarks came as Trump has often blasted his longtime political ally, while the U.S. pushes ahead with Middle East diplomacy involving Iran and Lebanon.

Earlier this month Axios reported that Trump blasted Netanyahu during a call over Israel’s procedures in Lebanon, with one U.S. official recapping Trump’s message as calling the Israeli leader “f—ing crazy.” Later during an interview on the New York Post’s “Pod Force One” podcast, Trump confirmed that he made the remark, while also saying he likes Netanyahu and works “very well” with him.

On the other hand, Netanyahu has recurrently stressed his relationship with Trump in official remarks, calling him “our great friend” and “my personal friend,” and saying the two leaders “speak almost every day” and “decid[e] together,” according to statements released by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.