Nelk Boys Face Criticism After Netanyahu Interview on Full Send

The Nelk Boys, a group of pro-Trump YouTubers and podcasters known for their pranks and appeal to young male audiences, interviewed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on their "Full Send" podcast. The interview, recorded in early July 2025 during Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, D.C., was released yesterday. It covered topics like Israel’s war in Gaza, antisemitism, Netanyahu’s relationship with Donald Trump, and his personal Shabbat rituals.

He revealed how his wife, Sara, encouraged a renewed focus on family time after he returned to office. Concerned about neglecting their sons due to his demanding role, Sara proposed phone-free Shabbat meals on Friday nights and Saturday lunches. Netanyahu described the ritual as "refreshing," noting that his younger son, an Oxford graduate and avid Bible scholar, leads family discussions by reading and teaching Torah passages. He credited Sara’s wisdom for preserving these precious family moments, which he said would otherwise have been lost.

The interview sparked significant controversy. Critics, including some of the Nelk Boys’ own audience, slammed it as a "softball" interview with little pushback. The backlash was intense enough that the Nelk Boys faced accusations of tarnishing their brand, and they later appeared with controversial figures like Nick Fuentes to address the fallout. Hasan Piker and others criticized the interview, arguing it platformed Netanyahu without challenging his narrative.

Netanyahu’s decision to appear on the podcast aligns with his strategy to reach conservative, nontraditional media to gain support for Israel among Trump’s base, especially young men. The interview’s YouTube comments and social media posts show a divided audience, with some praising the Nelk Boys for taking on such a high-profile figure, while others condemned them for not asking tougher questions.