Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described his alliance with President Donald Trump as rooted in mutual respect, characterizing Israel as the "junior partner" in the relationship. Speaking on the "Hang Out with Sean Hannity" podcast, Netanyahu dismissed suggestions that either leader dictates the other's decisions.
"We are allies. He's the senior partner. We're the junior partner, obviously, but we treat each other with tremendous respect," Netanyahu stated.
While acknowledging that he and Trump do not agree on every issue, Netanyahu said they are aligned on most matters and united on the most important ones. He praised Trump's leadership style, describing him as an "irreverent" leader who is unafraid to deviate from convention.
"He just says what he thinks, and his basic instincts are always on target, and he cuts to the chase," Netanyahu said. "He just does what he believes is good for America."
Despite criticism from various quarters, the two leaders have maintained alignment on significant regional issues, including efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and pursuing peace in the Middle East. Netanyahu also humorously addressed speculation regarding the power dynamic between them, noting that Americans sometimes claim he controls Trump, while Israelis suggest Trump controls him.
The full conversation with Netanyahu is available on various podcast platforms including iHeart, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.