U.S. President Donald Trump has once again voiced significant frustration with Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader of Israel, one of the United States’ closest allies. These remarks come as President Trump prepares to celebrate his milestone 80th birthday at the White House.
According to Barak Ravid, a reporter for Axios, Trump expressed his displeasure by stating that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu lacks sound judgment. This revelation was shared during a conversation with Ravid, excerpts of which were posted on the social media platform X.
Ravid reported that Trump said, “Why did Bibi have to go through with that attack? I was incredibly upset. I let him know. He has no judgment whatsoever. I made sure he understood that.”
Despite the tensions, Trump assured Ravid that the U.S.-Iran agreement aimed at ending the ongoing conflict remains on schedule for signing this Sunday. This assurance comes amid an Israeli strike in Beirut and threats of retaliation from Iran.
The Israeli military reported that Hezbollah launched three projectiles aimed at northern Israeli communities earlier in the day. This act was labeled as a clear violation of the existing ceasefire agreement.
They responded on Sunday by attacking ‘terrorist targets of the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the Dahiyeh neighborhood of Beirut, in response to Hezbollah’s firing into Israeli territory,’ per Netanyahu and Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz.
Following the attack, the US President took to his Truth Social platform, stating: ‘This morning’s attack on Beirut should not have happened, particularly on a special day when we are so close to a Peace Deal with Iran.
‘Israel has the right to defend itself against threats, but the attack it was responding to was very small and meaningless, nobody was hurt, injured, or killed, and should not disrupt this important process.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives for a press conference in Jerusalem on March 19, 2026
US President Donald Trump holds a press conference with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, December 29, 2025
People clean up near the site of an apartment targeted by an Israeli airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburbs, Lebanon, June 14, 2026
‘We are very close to a Deal that will bring peace to the region, including to Lebanon, and all sides should stand down. There should be no more attacks by Israel anywhere in Lebanon, but there should also be no more attacks by any other party, including Hezbollah, against Israel.
‘This could be the beginning of a long and beautiful peace — Let’s not blow it! Thank you for your attention to this matter.’
Netanyahu’s office earlier said that the Israeli military had ‘carried out strikes in the Dahiyeh district of Beirut against terrorist targets belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organisation, in response to Hezbollah’s firing toward Israeli territory.’
US President Donald Trump points his finger towards Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they shake hands during a press conference after meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, December 29, 2025
Members of security forces and onlookers gather near a heavily damaged building following an Israeli airstrike on the Dahiyeh district in Beirut, Lebanon, on June 14, 2026
People look for survivors at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Beirut’s southern suburbs on June 14, 2026
Israel’s military added that it had ‘precisely struck’ a Hezbollah infrastructure site in Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut that is regarded as a stronghold of the militant group.
There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah on Israel’s statement. However, the group said it had launched missiles and drones towards Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.
Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) reported that one strike hit an apartment in the Ghobeiry neighborhood of Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Images from the scene showed plumes of smoke and dust rising above the area, while debris littered nearby streets as residents searched through the aftermath.
Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, have repeatedly warned that Israel would target Beirut’s southern suburbs if Hezbollah attacked northern Israeli communities.
Trump is celebrating his 80th birthday today, June 14, at the White House, as one of his best friends Dana White hosts a UFC fight on the White House grounds.
About 4,000 of Trump and the UFC’s closest friends are expected to be seated on the White House grounds, as tens of thousands more fans attend the fight and Fan Fest on The Ellipse just outside of the White House perimeter.
Per Trump’s schedule shared by the White House with members of the media, the President is expected to have a celebratory dinner with his family at 5.30pm.
He is then planning to attend the UFC Freedom 250 VIP Reception at 7pm and the fights themselves starting at 7.45pm.
After the first punch is thrown at 8pm, a total of seven fights are expected to take place, lasting into the early hours of Monday morning.