Trump boxes Netanyahu's ears over Lebanon offensive, calls him 'f**king crazy': Report



President Donald Trump's tolerance for allied actions that undermine America's negotiations with Iran may have reached its limit.

Negotiators representing the U.S. and Iran appeared poised last week to advance the cause of peace between their respective nations, extend the fragile ceasefire that first went into effect in April, and open the Strait of Hormuz again to trade.

'Everybody hates you now.'

On Monday, Trump stated that "Iran really wants to make a deal, and it will be a good one for the U.S.A. and those that are with us."

Within hours of the president expressing optimism about resolving the unpopular conflict that is now in its 13th week — the peace talks began to quickly unravel.

Iranian state media and government officials indicated that Tehran was backing out of the talks largely over Israel's offensive in Lebanon and the escalations in Beirut that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced earlier in the day.

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Evan Vucci/Pool/Getty Images

Although he initially appeared apathetic — telling NBC News, for instance, "I think it's fine if they're done talking" — Trump attempted to resurrect the peace talks, calling Netanyahu to impress upon him the need to change course in Lebanon.

According to the president, Netanyahu agreed that "there will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back."

Two U.S. officials and a third source briefed on the call revealed to Axios that Trump used some choice words and effectively "steamrolled" the Israeli prime minister.

One official, summarizing Trump's remarks to Netanyahu, claimed that the president effectively said, "You're f**king crazy. You'd be in prison if it weren't for me. I'm saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this."

Netanyahu, who faces an outstanding warrant from the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, was indicted in 2019 in three Israeli criminal cases for alleged bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Last year, Trump called for Israel to pardon Netanyahu and/or drop his corruption case. Netanyahu's corruption trial is ongoing.

'Let’s see how long that lasts.'

The source briefed on the call told Axios that Trump was "pissed" and yelled at Netanyahu, "What the f**k are you doing?"

One of the U.S. officials claimed that Trump was aware of Hezbollah's attacks on Israel and the Jewish state's need to defend itself but was still convinced that Netanyahu's recent escalations were disproportionate.

Another U.S. official told Axios that Trump was also concerned over how many civilians Israel has killed in Lebanon. Well over 3,300 people have been killed and around 10,000 have been injured in the Israeli strikes on Lebanon since March 2, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

The White House did not respond to Blaze News' request for comment.

Shortly after the call, Netanyahu confirmed he had spoken to Trump and "told him that if Hezbollah does not cease attacking our cities and citizens — Israel will attack terror targets in Beirut. This stance of ours remains unchanged. In parallel, the IDF will continue to operate as planned in southern Lebanon."

Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir publicly told Netanyahu after the call that "this is the time to tell our friend, President Trump — 'no.' Now is the time to do what is required and necessary to strike Hezbollah, to unleash the hands of our fighters, and to restore security to the north."

After stating that "talks are continuing, at a rapid pace, with the Islamic Republic of Iran," Trump thanked Netanyahu for reversing course on his planned Beirut attacks in a Monday evening post on Truth Social and noted that both Israel and Hezbollah have tentatively agreed to stop shooting at one another.

"Let’s see how long that lasts — Hopefully it will be for ETERNITY!" added Trump,

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Massie takes aim at AIPAC with new bill about Nazi-era law



The American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its affiliates routinely throw around tens of millions of dollars in American elections to ensure that hardline supporters of Israel are elected to the U.S. Congress on both sides of the aisle.

Rep. Thomas Massie — a Republican lawmaker with an 86.79% lifetime Turning Point Action score whom AIPAC has once again spent a fortune trying to unseat in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District — introduced legislation on Thursday that would make AIPAC subject to the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938.

'It simply ensures transparency.'

FARA — a law originally advanced to curb Nazi Germany's influence in America — requires certain agents acting on behalf of foreign governments, organizations, or individuals to register with the Justice Department and to make "periodic public disclosure of their relationship with the foreign principal, as well as activities, receipts, and disbursements in support of those activities."

There have long been calls for AIPAC to have to register under FARA. Some opponents of such transparency have argued that the organization isn't foreign, that it's "'America’s pro-Israel lobby' and not the 'Israel lobby.'"

"For some reason they're immune right now," Massie said when announcing the Americans Insist on Political Agent Clarity Act, or AIPAC Act for short. "I think, not just the money that's spent in politics but the lobbying that happens on Capitol Hill should be reported if it's a foreign country — whether it's Great Britain, Australia, Turkey, Qatar or Israel, it needs to be reported."

"The Americans Insist on Political Agent Clarity Act does not ban speech, restrict advocacy, or prohibit Americans from supporting foreign allies," Massie said in a statement. "It simply ensures transparency. If an organization is heavily engaged in influencing U.S. policy in ways that principally benefit a foreign country, it should be required to register under FARA."

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Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images

The AIPAC Act would: clarify that U.S.-based organizations may qualify as foreign principals under FARA when their lobbying activities primarily advance the interests of a foreign power; establish "objective indicators" to determine foreign political alignment; and create a private right of action for American citizens to file complaints with the DOJ requesting probes into possible FARA violations by a foreign principal.

Massie has in recent months complained about the support his Republican challenger Ed Gallrein has enjoyed from "Israel-first billionaires Miriam Adelson, Paul Singer, and John Paulson, who himself appears in Epstein’s black book," via a PAC called MAGA KY.

The Daily Caller reported that AIPAC and the Republican Jewish Coalition have spent upwards of $9.8 million on efforts to boost Gallrein.

Massie appears to have drawn the ire of AIPAC and leading pro-Israel activists in part due to his past criticism of aid to Israel and his criticism of American military interventions in Iran.

Blaze News has reached out to AIPAC for comment.

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Rama Duwaji’s Old X Account Deleted After Free Beacon Report

New York City first lady Rama Duwaji’s old X account has been deleted in the wake of the Washington Free Beacon’s reporting that Duwaji, Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s wife, had celebrated Palestinian terrorists, including a hijacker, on that profile and on an old Tumblr account.

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‘Strike, Strike Tel Aviv’: Mamdani Introduced at Ramadan Celebration by Extremist Who Called on Hamas To Bomb Jewish State

Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D., N.Y.) celebrated Ramadan last week at a Staten Island mosque where he was introduced by an extremist who has called on Hamas to strike Tel Aviv and led a crowd in chants for "intifada."

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State Department launches urgent push to evacuate Americans from Middle East



While the situation in the Middle East has remained volatile since the commencement of Operations Epic Fury and Roaring Lion on Saturday, the United States has been working overtime to support Americans attempting to evacuate Israel and the surrounding regions.

As military operations against Iran enter their sixth day, the State Department and related agencies have provided updated guidance for U.S. citizens seeking to depart the region.

'Since February 28, the Department has facilitated the safe return of over 20,000 American citizens from the Middle East, approximately 8,500 arrivals yesterday.'

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee previously offered "fairly limited" options for Americans attempting to evacuate the region, including a bus service to Taba, Egypt, where travelers could attempt to catch an outgoing flight or continue to the airport in Cairo, Egypt. The bus service is still operational, according to a Thursday update from U.S. Embassy Jerusalem.

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Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images

The service was initially offered by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. Per the Thursday update, U.S. Embassy Jerusalem "has started offering" the same bus service to Taba.

The update also announced that Ben Gurion Airport reopened Thursday for "limited inbound flights" to Tel Aviv.

"We have no information yet on when outbound flights may become available," the embassy's security alert said.

There have been, however, some outbound flights for Americans facilitated by the Department of State.

According to a State Department media note released on Wednesday, "a Department of State charter flight of American citizens departed the Middle East in route to the United States as part of our ongoing efforts to assist Americans' return home. Additional flights will be surged across the region."

The note added that American citizens in UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Israel are encouraged to fill out and submit a crisis intake form or contact the department's 24/7 task force.

A State Department spokesperson told Blaze News Thursday, "Since February 28, the Department has facilitated the safe return of over 20,000 American citizens from the Middle East, approximately 8,500 arrivals yesterday. Thousands more have successfully transitioned to safe havens in Europe and Asia or remain in active transit."

The spokesperson added that the State Department's 24/7 task force has "assisted nearly 10,000 Americans abroad, including offering security guidance and travel assistance."

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Netanyahu denies forcing US into war after mixed messages from Rubio, Johnson



In his Monday appearance on Fox News' "Hannity," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the latest U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran and denied the dominant interpretation of Secretary of State Marco Rubio's and House Speaker Mike Johnson's recent remarks about the genesis of the attacks.

Compelled to act?

The Trump administration attempted on Monday to address the mounting confusion about the justification and objectives for the Iran strikes.

'We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces.'

As part of this broader effort, Rubio told reporters on Capitol Hill, "Why now? The first is it was abundantly clear that if Iran came under attack by anyone, the United States or Israel or anyone, they were going to respond and respond against the United States."

"The assessment that was made that if we stood and waited for that attack to come first before we hit them, we would suffer much higher casualties," said Rubio.

"We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action, we knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn’t preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties and perhaps even higher [than] those killed," continued the secretary. "And then we would all be here answering questions about why we knew that and didn’t act."

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), a member of the Gang of Eight who was briefed ahead of the resumption of strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, echoed Rubio, suggesting to reporters that the strikes were a "defensive measure."

"Israel was determined to act in their own defense here with or without American support," said Johnson, suggesting further that Iran posed an "existential threat" to Israel, and its missile production was outstripping "our allies in the region."

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Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images

"Because Israel was determined to act with or without the U.S., our commander in chief and the administration and the officials I just named had a very difficult decision to make," continued Johnson. "They had to evaluate the threats to the U.S. — to our troops, to our installations, to our assets in the region and beyond — and they determined because of the exquisite intelligence that we had that if Israel fired upon Iran and took action against Iran to take out the missiles, then they would have immediately retaliated against U.S. personnel and assets."

The suggestion that probable blowback from an ally's planned preemptive attack on another country forced America's involvement in a deadly conflict prompted outrage and debate — even on the right.

Conservative commentator Matt Walsh, for instance, said in response to Rubio's statement, "So he's flat out telling us that we're in a war with Iran because Israel forced our hand. This is basically the worst possible thing he could have said."

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Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

On the flip side, National Review editor Philip Klein suggested that critics had misconstrued Rubio's meaning.

Klein noted that later in Rubio's press conference, the secretary of state said that the U.S. was not forced to strike because of an impending Israeli action and that "this operation needed to happen because Iran in about a year or a year and a half would cross the line of immunity, meaning they would have so many short-range missiles, so many drones, that no one could do anything about it because they could hold the whole world hostage."

'Nobody drags Donald Trump into anything.'

Democrats such as Sen. Ruben Gallego (Ariz.), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (Wash.), and former Biden White House Domestic Policy Council Director Neera Tanden made hay of Rubio's and/or Johnson's remarks as did Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who stated, "Mr. Rubio admitted what we all knew: U.S. has entered a war of choice on behalf of Israel. There was never any so-called Iranian 'threat.' Shedding of both American and Iranian blood is thus on Israel Firsters."

The outrage over the suggestion that America's hand was forced not by an enemy but by a friend appears to have prompted a response from President Donald Trump, who noted on Monday evening,

The Radical Left Democrats, a Party that has completely lost its way, are complaining bitterly about the very necessary and important attack, by the United States and Israel, on Iran. What most people understand is that they are only complaining BECAUSE I DID IT and, if I didn’t do it, they would be screaming — Why didn’t “TRUMP” attack Iran, he should do it, IMMEDIATELY?

Trump then urged his followers to watch Netanyahu's interview on Fox News, where Hannity asked the Israeli prime minister about the forced-to-act claim.

"There are people that say, 'Well, the prime minister of Israel dragged Donald Trump into it,'" said Hannity. "As somebody that's been friends with him over 30 years, nobody drags Donald Trump into anything, number one, but I want to get your reaction to that."

Netanyahu laughed, then said, "Well, you're right. I mean that's — that's ridiculous. Donald Trump is the strongest leader in the world. He does what he thinks is right for America. He does also what he thinks is right for future generations, and frankly, we're partners in that effort."

The Israeli leader suggested that it was necessary to strike because Iran "started building new sites, new places, underground bunkers that would make their ballistic missile program and their atomic bomb programs immune within months. If no action was taken now, no action could be taken in the future."

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Trump warns Israel about interference in Syria after deadly raid, airstrikes



The Trump administration has worked diligently to help stabilize Syria in the wake of its December 2024 conquest by Islamic terrorists.

The administration has, for instance, removed sanctions and dropped the $10 million bounty on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist who is also known as Muhammad al-Jawlani; terminated the Syria sanctions program; revoked the Foreign Terrorist Organization designation of al-Sharaa's terrorist organizations al-Nusrah Front and HTS on July 8; and flooded parts of the war-torn country with humanitarian aid.

The recent Israeli attacks in the south of the country have prompted concerns among some in the administration, including the president, about the tenability of sustained peace in the region.

'We are trying to tell Bibi he has to stop this.'

President Donald Trump reiterated his support for al-Sharaa on Monday and suggested that Israel should refrain from further interference.

"The United States is very satisfied with the results displayed, through hard work and determination, in the Country of Syria," wrote the president. "We are doing everything within our power to make sure the Government of Syria continues to do what was intended, which is substantial, in order to build a true and prosperous Country."

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President Donald Trump shaking hands with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Photo by Syrian Presidency/Anadolu via Getty Images

"It is very important that Israel maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria, and that nothing takes place that will interfere with Syria’s evolution into a prosperous State," continued Trump. "The new President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is working diligently to make sure good things happen, and that both Syria and Israel will have a long and prosperous relationship together."

Two senior U.S. officials reportedly told Axios that the administration is concerned that repeated strikes inside Syria — including Israel's bombing of Syrian forces in July — serve to undermine hopes of an Israel-Syria security agreement.

Israeli troops reportedly killed 13 people, injured dozens, and arrested several individuals during a raid in Southern Syria on Friday, some footage of which Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adrae shared online.

The Israel Defense Forces indicated that the purpose of the operation was "to apprehend suspects from the Jaama Islamiya terrorist organization operating in the Beit Jinn area of southern Syria" and claimed that "during the activity several armed terrorists opened fire at the troops. IDF soldiers responded with live fire, supported by aerial assistance."

The Syrian foreign ministry characterized the attack as a "full-fledged war crime" and claimed that the raid and corresponding airstrikes left more than 10 civilians dead including women and children.

Walid Akasha, a local official in the area, told Reuters, "We're a peaceful, civilian population, farmers. We have a legitimate right to defend ourselves. We didn't attack them first — they came onto our land."

One of the U.S. officials told Axios, "The Syrians were going nuts. Their own constituents demanded retaliation because Syrian civilians were killed."

According to the officials, Israel neglected to notify the White House or Syria of the operation in advance.

"We are trying to tell Bibi he has to stop this because if it continues he will self-destruct — miss a huge diplomatic opportunity and turn the new Syrian government to an enemy," said one official, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu praised the Israeli soldiers involved in the Friday raid and noted in a statement on Tuesday, "After October 7th, we are determined to defend our communities on our borders, including the northern border, and to prevent the entrenchment of terrorists and hostile actions against us, to protect our Druze allies, and to ensure that the State of Israel is safe from ground attack and other attacks from the border areas."

"What we expect Syria to do, of course, is to establish a demilitarized buffer zone from Damascus to the buffer zone area, including, of course, the approaches to Mount Hermon and the summit of Mount Hermon," continued Netanyahu. "We hold these territories to ensure the security of the citizens of Israel, and that is what obligates us."

The prime minister suggested further that in a "good spirit and understanding of these principles, it is also possible to reach an agreement with the Syrians."

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They’ve Called for Terrorism Against Jews. Now They’re Teaching NYC Public School Students ‘How To Organize.’

Pro-Hamas activists Abdullah Akl and Mohammad Badawy have called to "strike Tel Aviv" and destroy "the illegitimate Zionist occupiers and all of their supporters." Now they're launching an initiative to form student chapters in dozens of New York City public high schools.

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Oy Vey! United Flight to Tel Aviv Announces Its Only In-Flight Meal Is a Ham Sandwich

Oy, the humanity. A United Airlines flight from Newark to Tel Aviv briefly sent passengers into a tailspin when staff announced that the only food available for a mid-flight meal for passengers in economy would be ham sandwiches. The announcement came just moments after United flight 84 took off and left many Jews on board […]

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The Man The Left Calls A ‘Nazi’ Just Signed A Peace Deal Protecting Millions Of Jews

President Donald Trump was heralded Monday as a hero by a grateful Israel that rejoiced in the return of the last living hostages.