Trump claims he can get 'problems solved real fast' in Lebanon, but Israel's ground offensive suggests otherwise

As Israel and Hezbollah hold a shaky ceasefire, and the standoff in Lebanon continues, US President Donald Trump on Monday (local time) said that he will get "problems solved real fast" with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

His remarks came after Netanyahu refused to remove the Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, despite the ongoing peace talks between the US and Iran, ANI reported. When asked how it would be ensured that Netanyahu doesn't jeopardise the negotiations after the two sides signed a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Trump refused to share details of his plan but called himself a “problem solver.”

Speaking to reporters, the US president said, "I'm not going to tell you what I'm going to do, but it gets solved. I'm a problem solver. I get problems solved real fast, including with Bibi."

Trump's latest remarks are not the first time that he has claimed that Israel listens to what he says and that he can get the Lebanon issue resolved. Last week, in an interview with Axios, the Republican President claimed that he would be able to stop Israel from attacking Lebanon and carrying out further strikes and asserted that Tel Aviv's leadership acts on his directions due to mutual respect.

When asked if he could restrain Israel's military action in the Middle East, particularly the strikes on Beirut, he said that he would be able to exercise control over such decisions. He added, "Yeah, I will be. I mean, they have a lot of respect for me, and they do as I say."

During the interview, Trump referred to Netanyahu and said the two maintain a strong but closely watched relationship. Commenting on their relationship, he said, “It's good, but we have to keep him a little bit sane.”

While Trump has maintained that he can influence Israel's military actions in Lebanon, Israel's actions since the cessation of hostilities with Iran have raised questions about the extent of that influence.

On Monday, Netanyahu reiterated that Tel Aviv's forces will continue to remain in Lebanon. Addressing the Jerusalem News Syndicate's International Policy Summit 2026, he disregarded the US-Iran MoU and reaffirmed his resolve to protect Israel and its citizens. He further asserted that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) will continue to be in the security zone in southern Lebanon, despite the quadrilateral meeting in Switzerland agreeing to form a "de-confliction zone" to cease the hostilities in Lebanon.

He said, "No matter what happens in the talks, with an agreement, without an agreement, I pledge to you that Iran, as long as I'm Prime Minister, will never have a nuclear weapon. Never. As long as I am the Prime Minister of Israel, I will not let that happen. As long as we need to protect our people, we will remain in the security zone in South Lebanon. No country would be asked to do otherwise."

The conflicting stances of the two leaders seem to further strain their ties. Once considered closest allies and friends, the frequent friendly phone calls are reportedly no longer friendly, The Wall Street Journal reported last week.

Reports say that the US president has yelled at his once closest ally on several occasions since the US and Israel waged a war against Iran. Last week, Trump even claimed, "Without the US, there would be no Israel. Without me, there would be no Israel because no other President was willing to do what I did. I have had a great relationship with Bibi. Now Bibi has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon.”

Whether the US president can genuinely influence Israel's decision remains an open question. However, for now, Israel's actions in Lebanon appear to suggest that Netanyahu is willing to pursue his own strategic priorities, even if they do not fully align with Washington's preferences.

Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.<br><br>

Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.<br><br>

At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.<br><br>

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.<br><br>

Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.

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