President Biden ‘called Netanyahu ‘a bad f***ing guy, a son of a bi**h’ and accused him of regularly lying to him’
Joe Biden has expressed his anger at Benjamin Netanyahu in a series of profanity-laden rants, accusing the Israeli prime minister of “regularly lying to him” during the Gaza war, a new book has revealed.
The American president labeled Netanyahu in conversations with his associates as a ‘bad f***ing guy’ and ‘son of a bi**h’, journalist Bob Woodward writes in his new insider account.
President Biden’s “frustrations and distrust” of Netanyahu “erupted” last spring, Woodward writes, as the war in Gaza became increasingly destructive and spread to Rafah, a southern part of the Gaza Strip where many refugees had fled.
Biden and Netanyahu have known each other for nearly four decades, with their relationship dating back to when the president was a junior senator in his early 40s and Netanyahu was a young diplomat about a decade younger.
However, their relationship was somewhat tense at times, and Netanyahu was a key international ally of Donald Trump during his time in office.
Last week, Biden said he did not know whether the Israeli leader was blocking a Middle East peace deal to influence the outcome of the 2024 US presidential election.
Joe Biden’s “frustrations and distrust” toward Netanyahu “erupted” last spring, according to a new book. The US president is pictured on October 8, 2024
Joe Biden has expressed his anger at Benjamin Netanyahu in a series of profanity-laden rants, according to a new book
Smoke rises in northern Gaza amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, seen from Israel, October 7, 2024
The new revelations are made in Woodward’s book ‘War’, which will be released next week.
The famed Watergate reporter is expected to lift the lid on the president’s blunt assessments of fellow world leaders, including Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin.
In a conversation with advisers shortly after the invasion of Ukraine, he is said to have described the Russian president as ‘Damn Putin’ and ‘the epitome of evil’.
Biden is also said to have had a nickname for his predecessor in the Oval Office, calling Donald Trump “that f***ing a**hole,” CNN reported based on excerpts from the book.
Woodward describes Biden being left “fucking furious” by Netanyahu, reportedly saying in a tirade: “That son of a bi**h, Bibi Netanyahu, he’s a bad guy. He’s a bad guy!’
While Netanyahu ‘keeps saying he would kill every member of Hamas.’ Woodward wrote: “Biden told him that was impossible, and threatened both privately and publicly to stop the offensive US arms supply.”
“He’s a damn liar,” Biden said of Netanyahu after that invasion began. The prime minister had repeatedly vowed to invade the area anyway, claiming Hamas leaders were hiding there.
Biden also expressed his anger directly at Netanyahu, reportedly telling him after an Israeli airstrike killed a top Hezbollah military commander and three civilians in Beirut: “Bibi, what the fuck?”
He also reportedly tried to warn Netanyahu that Israel was losing credibility in the world and was being seen as a “rogue state.”
Biden is said to have described the Russian president as ‘that damn Putin’ and ‘the embodiment of evil’
President Biden reportedly calls Donald Trump ‘that f***ing a**hole’
“We saw an opportunity and seized it,” Netanyahu reportedly responded. “The harder you hit, the more successful you will be in negotiations.”
Biden sought to rein in Israel because he feared the fighting would spark all-out war in the Middle East.
Woodward’s book will be published on October 15
The White House played down the book’s revelations, with spokesperson Emilie Simons telling reporters on Tuesday: “The commitment we have to the State of Israel is rock-solid.”
The leaders “can have very honest and frank conversations” and ties between the US and Israel are strong, Simons added.
When pressed for the details, Simons said she would not respond to any anecdote that might emerge in the reporting.
About Biden and Netanyahu, she added: “They have a long-standing relationship. They have a very honest and direct relationship, and I have no comment on those specific anecdotes.”
Biden has been pushing for a ceasefire deal in Gaza for months, but Netanyahu has repeatedly opposed the prospect, even as talks are ongoing.
“No government has helped Israel more than I have. No. None, none. And I think Bibi should remember that,” Biden said last week.
Responding to concerns that Netanyahu is not interested in a peace deal partly because of US politics, he added: “And whether he’s trying to influence the election, I don’t know – but I’m not counting on that.”