US President Donald Trump has publicly criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the second consecutive day, hours before the two leaders were scheduled to meet at the White House.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday with Fox News, Trump said Netanyahu should have discussed concerns over Iran’s underground Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility with him privately instead of raising the issue publicly.
Trump suggested Netanyahu was emphasising the site because he wanted to persuade Washington to remain involved in the conflict with Iran.
“I don’t need Bibi to tell me,” Trump said, adding that the US was fully aware of developments at the facility and knows "exactly what’s going on.”
He also warned that the US would “take it out very easily” if Iran failed to reach an agreement with Washington.
The remarks came a day after Trump appeared to dismiss Netanyahu’s reported opposition to US fighter jets sales to Türkiye.
Responding to criticism from Israel over potential military sales to Ankara, Trump defended Türkiye as an important US ally, described President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a friend, and said no one would dictate to him what military equipment the US could sell.
Trump and Netanyahu are expected to meet later Tuesday at the White House, with Iran, Gaza and broader regional security expected to dominate the agenda.
