President Donald Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will follow his directions on Iran policy and joked that he could run for prime minister of Israel after leaving office, citing what he called 99 percent support in the country.

Trump made the remarks to reporters on May 20, 2026, while discussing recent phone calls with Netanyahu. The conversations occurred as the United States and Israel manage ceasefire negotiations tied to the ongoing conflict with Iran that began earlier this year.

Trump Describes Control Over Netanyahu

Trump spoke directly about his relationship with the Israeli leader. “He’s fine. He’ll do whatever I want him to do,” Trump said. “He’s a very good man. He’s a great guy.”

The president added that Netanyahu served as a wartime prime minister and has not been treated fairly in Israel. Israeli media reported that Trump and Netanyahu held a lengthy and dramatic phone call overnight on May 19. The two leaders also spoke for more than 30 minutes on May 18 about the possibility of renewing operations against Iran.

Trump announced on May 19 that he had paused planned U.S. military strikes on Iran after requests from several Gulf country leaders. He stated that negotiations were underway and warned that the U.S. military remained prepared for a full-scale assault if no acceptable deal emerged.

“I have been asked by the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to hold off on our planned military attack of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was scheduled for tomorrow,” Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform

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Trump has repeatedly said any agreement must prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

99 Percent Claim and Prime Minister Joke

Trump then addressed his popularity in Israel. “I’m right now at 99% in Israel. I could run for prime minister, so maybe after I do this, I’ll go to Israel and run for prime minister,” he said. He referred to a poll from that morning but offered no specific details or data to support the claim.

A February 2026 survey by the Jewish People Policy Institute found that 73 percent of Israelis rated Trump as better than average for Israel’s interests. Of those, 49 percent said he was one of the best U.S. presidents in history for Israel, while 24 percent called him above average.

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The poll, conducted from February 1 to 4, showed higher support among Jewish Israelis than among Arab Israelis.

Trump has made similar jokes before about running for office in other countries. The May 20 comments spread quickly across social media and international news outlets.

Why This Matters

The statements come as the United States and Israel coordinate on Iran ceasefire talks that remain fragile. Trump’s description of directing Netanyahu’s decisions and his claim of near-total support in Israel raise questions about the balance of influence between the two countries.

The remarks also show how Trump uses personal relationships in foreign policy. Israeli officials and the public will continue to react as negotiations with Iran develop in the coming days.