JD Vance: Netanyahu has made mistakes in US relations

JD Vance has admitted that Benjamin Netanyahu has “certainly got some things wrong” in the latest sign of strain between the United States and Israel.

Speaking to Robert Costa in a preview of a CBS Sunday Morning interview, the US vice president said that the Israeli prime minister had “certainly” made mistakes in how he had approached his relationship with the US on Iran. although he refused to give any examples, saying those conversations “are better left in private.”

"But what I would say is that he's been a good partner," Vance said. "We're gonna keep on working together. But where interests diverge, the United States is gonna pursue the best interests of our nation, and that's how it's gonna be."

He also said: "Netanyahu, look, he governs a country that has obviously been a very close partner of the United States. But, even when we've been close partners, sometimes we have interests that are perfectly aligned and sometimes we have interests that are misaligned.”

He described Netanyahu as a leader who "aggressively asserts the interests of his country,” caveating that Donald Trump "has been very clear about what is in our best interest."

"Sometimes that means we're on the same page and sometimes it means that we're not," Vance said, adding that "where that diverges, we, unfortunately for the Israelis, have to choose the side of the American people, which we always do."

It comes a week after Netanyahu and Trump reportedly engaged in a heated conversation after Iran threatened to suspend peace talks with the US over Israel’s strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon.

While publicly Trump claimed discussions with Netanyahu had been “very productive”, US outlets reported that behind closed doors the president had called him “f****** crazy”.

Axios reported late last Monday, citing two unnamed US officials familiar with the call, that Trump said: “You’re f****** crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your a**. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.”

Another source who briefed Axios about the call said Trump was “p***ed” and at one point yelled at Netanyahu: “What the f*** are you doing?”

It comes as Iran declared the ceasefire with Washington “practically meaningless” as both sides traded strikes for the second day in a row, with the US forces firing 49 Tomahawk missiles on Wednesday.

Trump threatened to target Kharg Island on Thursday night in a post on Truth Social: “The United States will be hitting Iran (Whose Navy, Air Force, Radar, Anti Aircraft, and all other forms of Defense, together with most of its offensive capability, are GONE!), VERY HARD TONIGHT”.