US President Donald Trump has confirmed a tense exchange with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following reports that he rebuked him during a phone call.
In an interview published on Wednesday in the New York Post, Trump was asked about the conversation he had with Netanyahu over the phone on Monday.
"You said, 'Are you f-ing crazy? What are you f-ing doing? I helped you stay out of jail.' Is that true? Did you speak to him in those terms?" the interviewer asked.
"I did," Trump responded. "I was a little bit perturbed at his constantly fighting with Lebanon."
"I said, 'Bibi, we gotta stop this.'"
Trump went on to say he had a "very good relationship" with Netanyahu. "We've done well together... I like Bibi a lot."
Trump reportedly confronted Netanyahu over Israel’s threats to bomb the Lebanese capital Beirut, fearing it would undermine talks with Tehran to end the war in the Middle East, according to Axios and ABC News.
The exchange highlighted growing tensions between Trump and Netanyahu after the war, which began with attacks on Iran in late February, expanded to include strikes involving Israel and Lebanon.
Israeli media have rejected the account of the conversation.
Iran had reportedly halted peace talks because of Israel's attacks on Lebanon.
