U.S. President Donald Trump expressed irritation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just hours before their White House meeting. Speaking on Fox News on Tuesday, Trump reacted to reports that Netanyahu intended to discuss intelligence regarding Iran's underground nuclear facility, Pickaxe Mountain.
“I don’t need Bibi to tell me that,” Trump said, using Netanyahu’s nickname. He added: “He tells me that because he wants me to stay involved. I said: ‘Why don’t you tell me directly instead of broadcasting it to the whole world?’” The U.S. president asserted he was fully aware of the situation at Pickaxe and dismissed it as not a major issue.
The meeting comes as Trump says the U.S. and Iran are pursuing diplomacy after 13 days of escalation. Trump has repeatedly threatened new attacks, including on Pickaxe Mountain and Iran’s civilian infrastructure, if negotiations fail. Previous hostilities erupted after the U.S.-Iran memorandum signed in June collapsed.
Netanyahu’s government opposed that deal and has supported military campaigns aiming for regime change in Iran. U.S. media suggest public opinion holds that Netanyahu has repeatedly sought to influence Trump into military action against Iran. However, Trump downplayed the differences: “We have a few differences, but we are pretty close, yes.”
During the exchange, Trump also pushed back on Israel regarding the U.S. resumption of the F-35 program with Turkey, saying: “Frankly, we are very kind to many countries that would not exist without us. And who would not exist without us? Israel.”
Speaking on “Sunday Morning Futures” last weekend, Netanyahu said he hoped to meet Trump “to hear what he thinks” about Iran. He acknowledged that most decisions lie with the U.S. president: “If he can do it without returning to intense military conflict, that’s fine. Why not?” However, Netanyahu stressed his government’s uncompromising approach to Iran’s civilian nuclear program: “One way or another, they must end their nuclear program.”
