US President Donald Trump allegedly threatened Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a political “divorce” during a heated phone call in 2025, according to a new book by veteran New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan.
The explosive claim is detailed in *Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump*, a new book examining Trump’s foreign policy decisions and his evolving relationship with key global allies.
Trump-Netanyahu Rift Over Gaza Peace Plan
According to excerpts from the book cited by multiple media outlets, the tense exchange reportedly took place in September 2025, when Trump was pushing Israel to accept a US-backed peace proposal aimed at ending the Gaza conflict.
During the call, Trump allegedly expressed deep frustration with Netanyahu’s refusal to move forward with the deal.
“Everybody’s sick of you, Bibi. All the Jews are sick of you,” Trump reportedly said, according to the book’s authors.
The conversation reportedly took place in the presence of Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, both key figures in past US-Israel diplomatic efforts.
Trump is also said to have warned Netanyahu that continued resistance to the peace agreement could lead to “a divorce” between Washington and Tel Aviv — a rare indication of strain in what has long been considered one of America’s closest strategic alliances.
Tensions Escalated During Iran Conflict
Despite publicly praising each other during the early weeks of the US-Israel military campaign against Iran, relations between Trump and Netanyahu reportedly deteriorated as the conflict intensified.
The war, which began on February 28, saw joint US-Israeli military actions aimed at weakening Iran’s strategic capabilities. However, as peace negotiations with Tehran became increasingly fragile, Trump reportedly grew frustrated with Israel’s aggressive military posture.
Reports suggest Trump condemned Israeli strikes in Lebanon during sensitive negotiations, fearing they could derail diplomatic progress.
At one point, according to insiders cited in the book, Trump described Netanyahu as having “no judgment” and allegedly referred to him as “crazy” in private conversations.
US Intelligence Warned of Potential Obstacles
The controversy comes amid fresh reports that US intelligence agencies have warned Trump that Netanyahu could potentially complicate efforts to secure a long-term peace framework with Iran.
The interim agreement signed between Washington and Tehran last week has already drawn criticism from both American and Israeli political opponents, who argue it failed to accomplish its intended strategic goals.
Growing Political Pressure on Both Leaders
Both Trump and Netanyahu are facing mounting domestic criticism over their handling of Middle East policy.
For Trump, critics argue that his aggressive diplomacy has produced mixed results. For Netanyahu, growing unrest at home and abroad has intensified scrutiny over his leadership, particularly as the Gaza conflict continues to fuel international pressure.
The revelations in *Regime Change* may further deepen speculation over whether the once-close Trump-Netanyahu alliance is entering a period of lasting uncertainty.