“THEY’LL GET MOWED DOWN”: Trump Rebuffs Netanyahu’s Call for Joint Iranian Uprising
WASHINGTON / TEL AVIV — In a rare moment of strategic friction between the two closest allies, President Donald Trump reportedly rejected a proposal from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to issue a joint public call for the Iranian people to rise up against their government. According to a report from Axios on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, Trump pushed back during a tense call, expressing deep concern that such a move would lead to a civilian massacre rather than political change.
“Why the hell should we tell people to take to the streets when they’ll just get mowed down?” Trump told Netanyahu, according to a U.S. official briefed on the exchange.
Strategic Divergence: “Bonus” vs. “Objective”
The report highlights a fundamental difference in how Washington and Jerusalem view the endgame of Operation Epic Fury, now in its fourth week.
- Israel’s Stance: Netanyahu reportedly argued that with the Iranian regime in “chaos” following the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei and other top leaders, a coordinated Western call for an uprising could provide the final push for an internal collapse.
- Trump’s Stance: The President reportedly views regime change as a “bonus” rather than a primary military objective. His focus remains on the “Four Pillars”: dismantling the nuclear program, destroying the missile industry, neutralizing the navy, and degrading proxy networks.
- The “Mowed Down” Factor: Trump’s skepticism is rooted in the history of Iranian crackdowns. He reportedly reminded Netanyahu of the thousands killed in previous protests, warning that the IRGC and Basij would “slaughter” any unarmed civilians who attempted to storm government buildings during an active war.
Netanyahu Goes it Alone
Despite Trump’s refusal to join the call, the Prime Minister proceeded independently. During the Festival of Fire (Chaharshanbe Suri) earlier this week, Netanyahu released a video message in English, urging the “brave people of Iran” to take over their country while Israeli aircraft “knocked out the terrorist chieftains.”
The Result of the Call:
| Event | Outcome |
| :— | :— |
| Protest Turnout | Reports indicate a “muted” response; many Iranians stayed home due to heavy security and fear of air strikes. |
| Regime Response | Tehran used Netanyahu’s solo call as propaganda, labeling the lack of turnout as “nationalistic defiance” against foreign meddling. |
| U.S. Positioning | Trump remains “still interested in pursuing a diplomatic path” that could leave a neutered version of the regime in place. |
“Negotiating with Scared People”
The Axios report aligns with Trump’s public comments at a Republican dinner last night, where he claimed Iranian negotiators are “afraid to say they want a deal” because they fear being killed by their own hardliners.
“They want to make a deal so badly, but they’re afraid to say it, because they figure they’ll be killed by their own people. They’re also afraid they’ll be killed by us.” — President Trump, March 25
What’s Next?
As the Friday morning deadline approaches, the friction over “regime change” remains the elephant in the room. While Israel is reportedly ordering a 48-hour “strike surge” to maximize damage before a potential ceasefire, Trump is signaling he would rather have a signed 15-point deal with a “surviving leadership” than a chaotic power vacuum that leads to a civilian bloodbath.