President Donald Trump used profanity to criticize Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a Friday phone call about potential Hamas ceasefire discussions.
Trump called Netanyahu after Hamas signaled readiness to negotiate the release of Israeli hostages, but was reportedly surprised by the prime minister's lack of enthusiasm for the development. The president responded with frustration when Netanyahu characterized the Hamas signal as meaningless, telling him, "I don't know why you're always so f***ing negative," according to Daily Mail.
The dynamic between the two leaders during Friday's conversation was described as contentious by officials familiar with the discussion. Trump was left annoyed by Netanyahu's response to what he viewed as positive momentum in the ceasefire negotiations.
Netanyahu viewed Hamas' response as a rejection of Trump's peace plan and wanted to coordinate with American officials on their response. The Israeli prime minister sought to avoid creating a narrative that Hamas had answered ceasefire calls positively when he believed otherwise.
Trump interpreted Hamas' actual response as an opening for a potential deal and emphasized positive developments in the negotiations. The president saw the Hamas signal as a win that should be celebrated rather than dismissed.
Those familiar with the conversation on both sides described how the two leaders had fundamentally different interpretations of Hamas' latest communication. The disagreement highlighted ongoing tensions between American and Israeli approaches to the conflict resolution process.
Trump has cursed out Netanyahu multiple times over recent months during negotiations, indicating a pattern of frustration with the Israeli leader. In June, the president went on a tirade when both Israel and Iran violated a ceasefire agreement.
The president complained that the two countries "have been fighting so long and so hard that they don't know what the f*** they're doing" before boarding Marine One. Trump has also been critical of Netanyahu's preference for military solutions over diplomatic negotiations in Gaza.
Last month, reports revealed Trump's frustration with Netanyahu's approach, with the president saying, "He's f***ng me," according to Wall Street Journal reporting. These incidents demonstrate ongoing tension between the leaders despite their alliance on regional security issues.
Hamas expressed willingness to release remaining hostages as negotiations gained momentum late last week. The terrorist organization, which has controlled Gaza since 2007, also indicated readiness to cede governing control to Palestinian technocrats.
The group said it would accept "a Palestinian authority of independents based on Palestinian national consensus and with reliance on Arab and Islamic support." This represents a significant shift from Hamas' previous positions on both hostage releases and governance structures.
Following Trump's pressure, Netanyahu eventually agreed to move forward with negotiations despite his initial reservations about Hamas' response. The Israeli prime minister also complied with Trump's request to halt airstrikes on Gaza by Saturday.
Trump's administration has developed a 20-point proposal that requires Hamas to release all hostages in exchange for prisoner releases by Israel. Under the plan, Israel would release 250 life-sentence prisoners plus 1,700 Gazans detained after October 7, 2023, including women and children.
The proposal explicitly states that Israel cannot occupy or annex Gaza and prohibits forcing Gaza residents to leave their homes. This represents a departure from Trump's earlier suggestion that the United States could own and redevelop Gaza as the "Riviera of the Middle East."
Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are traveling to Egypt where indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel are expected to begin Monday. The president has expressed optimism that the first phase of any agreement could be completed this week if all parties move quickly.