Watch: Trump says Netanyahu did not defy him in BBC interview

BBC North America Editor Sarah Smith spoke with President Donald Trump in a brief phone call on Monday about his recent conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the period leading up to strikes on Iran. In the exchange, Trump addressed questions about whether Netanyahu had defied him by launching missiles at Iran on Sunday. He said the missiles were “already on their way” when he spoke with the Israeli leader, suggesting the timing of the strike had already been set in motion before their conversation.

Trump’s remarks were notable for both their brevity and their tone. He emphasized his influence over Netanyahu, saying, “if I tell him to do something, he does it.” The statement was presented as a defense of his relationship with the Israeli prime minister and as a way of downplaying any suggestion that Netanyahu acted independently against his wishes. The call itself lasted just under a minute, underscoring how little time was spent on the issue despite its political sensitivity.

The exchange comes amid heightened tensions involving Iran and Israel, with military action drawing close international scrutiny. Trump’s comments appeared aimed at clarifying the sequence of events while reinforcing the idea that his discussions with Netanyahu were ongoing and consequential. By stating that the missiles were already in motion when he spoke with Netanyahu, Trump indicated that the strike was not necessarily a direct response to any fresh instruction from Washington.

The brief phone call also highlighted Trump’s tendency to speak in forceful terms about foreign leaders and his own role in shaping events. His assertion that Netanyahu follows his direction reflected a broader political message about leverage and personal authority in diplomacy. At the same time, the explanation raised further questions about the level of coordination between the two leaders before the attack on Iran.

The BBC report focused on the immediate context of Trump’s conversation with Sarah Smith and the way he framed his relationship with Netanyahu. It did not provide additional detail about the substance of the wider discussions between the two leaders or the consequences of the strikes. Still, the comments were significant because they touched on one of the most sensitive foreign policy flashpoints in the region.

Trump’s remarks are likely to draw attention from observers tracking U.S.-Israel relations, the pace of decision-making surrounding Iran, and the political implications of any suggestion that allied leaders were not fully aligned. The short call and Trump’s pointed language added another layer to an already tense situation, with his comments reflecting both confidence in his influence and an effort to shape public understanding of the events surrounding the strikes.