Trump Aides Fume, Call Netanyahu ‘Madman, Child' Over Syria Strikes: Report
White House firmly opposed Israel's latest bomb strike on Syria and the shelling of the only Catholic church in Gaza this week. Reportedly, White House believes that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 'has been acting like a mad man' and he undermines President Donald Trump's efforts to achieve peace.
As per a report by Axios, an unnamed White House official referred to Netanyahu's nickname and said, 'Bibi acted like a madman, he is bombing everything all the time." Another official was quoted by Axios as saying, 'Netanyahu is sometimes like a child who just won't behave."
The report cited six US officials saying that the White House is alarmed by Netanyahu's policies because even after US-brokered ceasefire Israel continues bombing.
Israel, on Tuesday, bombed a convoy of Syrian army tanks en route to the city of Suwayda. The tanks were going in respond to violent clashes between a Druze militia and armed Bedouin tribesmen, which had killed over 700 people.
Israel claimed the convoy crossed into a zone of southern Syria it demands be demilitarized.
Netanyahu Admitted Mistake
After bombing the Church in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted the mistake during a call with US President Donald Trump, the White House said. During a press briefing on Friday (local time), White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump held a phone call with Netanyahu to address the strike. According to the statement Trump was not at all positive about the incident.
'It was not a positive reaction. He called Prime Minister Netanyahu this morning to address the strikes on that church in Gaza. And I understand that the Prime Minister agreed to issue a statement. It was a mistake by the Israelis to hit that Catholic church. That's what the Prime Minister relayed to the President. You should look at the Prime Minister's statement," Leavitt stated during the briefing.
After the call, Israel expressed 'deep regret" about the attack. 'Israel deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gaza's Holy Family Church. Every innocent life lost is a tragedy. We share the grief of the families and the faithful," the statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office read. 'We are grateful to Pope Leo for his words of comfort. Israel is investigating the incident and remains committed to protecting civilians and holy sites," it added.
Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated!
Location :
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:
July 20, 2025, 19:41 IST
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
23 minutes ago
- Hans India
Reckless decision: Rubio slams France's recognition of Palestine state
Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed French President Emmanuel Macron's move to officially recognise the state of Palestine, calling it a 'reckless decision'. 'The United States strongly rejects Emmanuel Macron's plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly. This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7,' Rubio said on Friday in a post on X. The remarks came after French President Macron announced France's decision to recognise the Palestinian state. 'Consistent with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine. I will make this solemn announcement before the United Nations General Assembly this coming September. The urgent priority today is to end the war in Gaza and to bring relief to the civilian population,' Macron stated in his social media post. Condemning the decision, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the move' rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy.' 'We strongly condemn President Macron's decision to recognize a Palestinian state next to Tel Aviv in the wake of the October 7 massacre. Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it. Let's be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel,' said Netanyahu in a post on X. In a strongly worded statement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said, 'The French President's pretension to create by mere words an illusionary arrangement in our land is ridiculous and not serious. His statement this evening shows that all the conditions that he himself set a few weeks ago - have that remains is the illusionary state he presumes to establish." "A Palestinian state will be a Hamas state, just as the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip twenty years ago led to Hamas taking control of it,' Sa'ar emphasised. Meanwhile Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz called the move 'a disgrace and a surrender to terrorism'. 'Macron's announcement of his intention to recognise a Palestinian state is a disgrace and a surrender to terrorism, granting a reward and encouragement to the murderers and rapists of Hamas, who carried out the most horrific massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Instead of standing with Israel in this time of trial, the French president is acting to weaken it,'the Israeli Defence Minister stated 'We will not allow the establishment of a Palestinian entity that would harm our security, endanger our existence, and undermine our historical right to the Land of Israel. We are all united to prevent this grave danger,' he added.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
23 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Chinese smartphone prices drop 45% in US as export volumes crash in June
Chinese manufacturers are sharply cutting prices on products shipped to the United States in a bid to stay competitive amid ongoing trade tensions. According to new data from China's General Administration of Customs, analysed by Nikkei Asia, the average price of smartphones exported to the US fell by 45 per cent in June compared to the same period a year ago. Trump tariffs force exporters to slash margins The reductions come as exporters attempt to absorb the impact of tariffs rather than lose ground in a key overseas market. These price cuts come despite a recent agreement between Beijing and Washington to pause further tariff increases for 90 days to allow time for negotiations. Still, most Chinese goods continue to face a combined tariff rate of around 30 per cent, and smartphones remain subject to a 20 per cent tariff imposed earlier this year in response to the US fentanyl crisis. Chinese consumer electronics see price drops Smartphones have seen steadily declining export prices since April, reversing a brief plateau in March. Other consumer electronics are following suit. Video game consoles recorded a 23 per cent drop in per-unit prices in June, while irons and pocket watches each declined by around 5 per cent. Out of 14 product categories reviewed, nine saw prices fall. Nikkei noted that US consumers and businesses have continued to import Chinese products due to a lack of reliable alternatives in broader markets. However, even at lower prices, China's export volumes have slumped. Apple accelerates India shift as China falters Smartphone shipments to the US dropped 71 per cent in June. In April, exports of Apple Inc's iPhones and other mobile devices fell 72 per cent to just under $700 million —the lowest monthly figure since 2011, well below the overall 21 per cent drop in Chinese shipments to the US that month. Meanwhile, Apple has accelerated the shift of iPhone manufacturing to India, its largest production hub outside China. Over the past year, China's exports of phone components to India have quadrupled, according to customs data. US President Donald Trump has publicly criticised Apple's overseas manufacturing strategy and called on the company to bring iPhone production to the US. Still, not all export categories are seeing price cuts. Fireworks exports rose by 51 per cent in June, recovering from a sharp 75 per cent plunge in May, likely the result of delayed shipments finally clearing customs. Prices also increased for alarm clocks and scissors. US-China trade tensions persist Despite ongoing talks, trade tension between China and the US remains high. Earlier this week, Beijing accused Washington of undermining recent trade talks in Geneva by imposing fresh sanctions on Huawei Technologies Co's artificial intelligence chips. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to meet Chinese trade officials in Stockholm next week for two days of talks beginning Monday. The goal is to extend the tariff suspension beyond its current expiration on August 12.
News18
31 minutes ago
- News18
Sports Minister to commemorate Kargil War anniversary with padyatra in Drass
Agency: New Delhi, Jul 25 (PTI) Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will lead a 'padyatra' featuring over 1,000 youth volunteers, veterans, armed forces personnel, families of fallen soldiers, and civil society members in Drass on Saturday to commemorate the 26th anniversary of India's victory in the 1999 Kargil War. Mandaviya will also be joined by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth in the 'Kargil Vijay Diwas Padyatra' being organised by MY Bharat (Mera Yuva Bharat). 'Led by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports and Labour and Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, the padyatra will also witness the participation of alongside over 1,000 youth, veterans, armed forces personnel, families of martyrs, and civil society members," stated a press release from the ministry of youth affairs and sports. 'The Padyatra, covering a distance of 1.5 kilometers, will commence at 7am from the grounds of Himabass Public High School, Drass, and will conclude at the grounds of Government Higher Secondary School, Bhimbet," it added. The two ministers, accompanied by 100 youth volunteers, will then proceed to the Kargil War Memorial to lay wreaths and offer homage to the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during the 1999 conflict with Pakistan. Mandaviya will also felicitate 26 women bikers of the Shakti Udgosh Foundation, who will arrive at the war memorial after completing a long-distance motorbike rally undertaken as a tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives. The padyatra will also feature a plantation drive under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign. PTI PM PM PDS PDS view comments First Published: July 25, 2025, 11:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
