President Donald Trump called himself the “best president in the history of Israel” on Thursday as his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to strain amid the unresolved Iran war.
During an interview with CNBC host Joe Kernen, Trump boasted that he has been the greatest ally of Israel in its most challenging moments of late.
“How a Jewish person can vote for a Democrat is beyond me because I’ve been the best president in the history of Israel,” he said.
The president went on to tout a 99% figure, seemingly referencing his support among Israelis, and to make his case for attacking Iran.
“You can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “No other presidents even thought of doing what I did.”
“I’ve defeated them militarily. They’re totally defeated militarily,” he continued before apparently contradicting himself. “They have some missiles left. We could wipe them out too.”
Last week, the U.S. military struck Iran after the Islamic regime attacked a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz. The resumed fighting came after both sides signed a memorandum of understanding to start the process for peace talks and nuclear negotiations.
Indirect talks between the United States and Iran are happening in Qatar through mediators following the renewed airstrikes. Vice President JD Vance, who has taken charge of the U.S. side of the peace talks, recently said the negotiations are “going well.” Trump is optimistic about the outcome of the talks.
“We’re negotiating,” he said. “I think they’ve agreed on just about everything we need.”
Israel has been kept on the sidelines of the peace talks even though the Jewish state joined the U.S. in striking Iran over four months ago. This has created tensions between Trump and Netanyahu, who vowed to fully eliminate Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon as the U.S. worked toward securing peace.
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Trump openly criticized Netanyahu after the peace deal was almost thwarted by an Israeli strike in Beirut.
“Why did Bibi have to do a f***ing attack?” Trump told Axios last month. “I was so pissed off. I let him know. He has no f***ing judgment. I let him know that.”
