Fox News Crew Notes Trump Was ‘Irked’ by Netanyahu Ahead of Oval Office Sit-Down

The Fox News morning crew agreed — President Donald Trump seemed “irked” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a Tuesday morning phone interview with Fox & Friends.

Correspondent Lucas Tomlinson came on the air right after the president wrapped his interview and highlighted Trump’s comments on Netanyahu.

The president appeared to be upset about a Monday report from the New York Post which said Netanyahu is “expected to provide intelligence that Iran is building up its nuclear facilities at its mysterious Pickaxe Mountain site and the regime is lying about wanting to continue peace negotiations.” Trump told Fox News he doesn’t need Israel leaking info like that to the press.

“I heard Bibi announce that. I said, ‘Why don’t you just tell it to me, why do you have to announce it to the world?'” Trump said. “I know exactly what’s going on at Pickaxe, it’s not a big problem.”

Trump continued, saying the U.S. could wipe out the mountain — which is home to a fortified underground site tied to its nuclear program — “very easily.”

Tomlinson noted afterwards Trump “sounded a little irked there with the Israeli prime minister talking about this intelligence, talking to the press, and not dealing with him directly.”

Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy completely agreed.

“I think that’s a good way to put it, Lucas. He was a little irked,” Doocy said.

Trump’s remarks came just hours before Netanyahu would appear at Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) memorial service in Washington, D.C. Netanyahu will also sit down with Trump at the White House during his trip.

The president and Netanyahu have been close allies for years, and both the U.S. and Israel have worked together during the Iran war. Trump has mostly been very complimentary of Netanyahu in public, including on Monday when he said the prime minister was “great.” Trump added the two leaders “have a little difference” of opinion on the next steps with Iran, but they were “pretty close” overall.

Those comments were much warmer than when Trump said in June Netanyahu has “no choice” but to accept whatever deal he cuts with Iran.

“I call the shots. I call all the shots,” Trump said. “[Netanyahu] doesn’t call the shots.”

Watch above via Fox News.

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