Donald Trump recently shared a provocative video on Truth Social in which he referred to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “deep, dark son of a bitch.”
This comes shortly after Netanyahu described their recent discussion about hostage negotiations and Syria policy as “very friendly, warm.”
The video, featuring economist Jeffrey Sachs at a Cambridge Union event, accuses Netanyahu of influencing US foreign policy to pursue wars in the Middle East. Sachs claims Netanyahu has targeted governments in Iraq, Iran, and Syria since 1995 in an effort to weaken Hamas and Hezbollah, leading to what he calls “endless wars.”
Trump’s intentions behind sharing the video remain unclear. Known for critiquing Washington’s establishment, his repost coincides with ongoing diplomatic efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the US to secure a truce and hostage releases.
It also aligns with Trump’s assembly of a foreign policy team, labeled by some Israeli settlers as a “dream team,” that includes staunch supporters of Israel.
Trump’s nominees include Marco Rubio for secretary of state, who opposes a Gaza ceasefire, and Elise Stefanik for UN ambassador, who has dismissed UN criticisms of civilian casualties in Gaza.
His pick for ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has denied the existence of Palestinian territories, while defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth has raised concerns over crusader-associated tattoos.
Trump, who has promised harsh measures if hostages are not released, may benefit Netanyahu’s policies, including settlement expansion, if he returns to office. However, their relationship has been turbulent, with Trump criticizing Netanyahu for congratulating Joe Biden after the 2020 election.
Jeffrey Sachs, while not advising Trump, expressed hope that the repost signals a shift away from Netanyahu’s “cruel, ineffective, illegal and destructive” policies. The Israeli government has yet to comment on Trump’s actions.