Trump Urges Israel to Pardon Netanyahu Immediately \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Donald Trump called on Israel to cancel Prime Minister Netanyahu’s corruption trial or grant a pardon. Labeling the proceedings a “witch hunt,” Trump praised Netanyahu as a hero while contrastingly criticizing Israel’s recent military actions. Israeli officials have not confirmed any pardon discussions.
Quick Looks
- Trump demands Israel cancel Netanyahu’s corruption trial or issue pardon.
- Netanyahu is on trial for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.
- Trump calls the charges a “witch hunt,” likening them to his own legal issues.
- Israeli President Herzog says no pardon request has been made.
- Trump praises Netanyahu but criticizes Israel’s post-ceasefire airstrikes.
Deep Look
President Donald Trump has publicly urged Israel to cancel the corruption trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or issue an immediate pardon. The statement, delivered through a Truth Social post on Wednesday, reflects not only Trump’s steadfast support for Netanyahu but also his growing inclination to insert U.S. influence into key judicial and political developments abroad — particularly involving allied leaders.
Netanyahu, facing long-standing criminal charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, has maintained his innocence since his indictment in 2019. The trial, which includes three complex cases involving allegations of political favors in exchange for media coverage and gifts from wealthy donors, has become one of the most politically divisive legal sagas in Israeli history. After years of pre-trial delays, cross-examination of Netanyahu began in June 2025 in a Tel Aviv courtroom and is projected to continue for at least a year.
Trump, now in his second term, described the trial as a “witch hunt” — language he routinely employs to describe his own legal challenges in the United States. “Bibi Netanyahu’s trial should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero,” Trump wrote, referring to Netanyahu by his well-known nickname. “It was the United States of America that saved Israel, and now it is going to be the United States of America that saves Bibi Netanyahu.”
Trump’s rhetoric places him in stark opposition to the current Israeli legal process and raises significant diplomatic questions. While the U.S. President has no direct role in Israel’s judiciary, his comments amplify the domestic pressure surrounding the case and could influence public sentiment or political maneuvering within the Netanyahu government.
Under Israeli law, the only individual with the constitutional authority to issue a pardon is President Isaac Herzog. However, Herzog recently stated that a pardon is “not currently on the table” and confirmed that no formal request has been submitted. While Trump’s appeal could provoke Netanyahu’s supporters to push for executive clemency, the process remains deeply entangled in Israeli political sensitivities and legal precedent.
Trump’s comments come amid a period of delicate diplomacy in the Middle East. Just days earlier, the President played a central role in brokering a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Iran, following a week of aggressive military exchanges. The U.S. launched precision strikes against Iran’s nuclear development facilities, prompting a restrained Iranian response targeting an American base in Qatar. Netanyahu’s subsequent decision to resume bombing Iranian targets despite the ceasefire drew rare rebuke from Trump himself.
“Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs, the likes of which I’ve never seen before,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “I’m not happy with Israel.” In the same breath, he voiced exasperation with both adversaries: “Iran and Israel have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f— they’re doing.”
This dual stance — defending Netanyahu while criticizing Israeli military conduct — reflects a balancing act that has become central to Trump’s foreign policy strategy in his second term. On one hand, he positions himself as a protector of stalwart allies like Netanyahu; on the other, he is willing to distance himself from their actions if they complicate his broader diplomatic goals.
Trump’s defense of Netanyahu also mirrors his personal narrative. Both leaders are facing or have faced serious legal challenges while holding power, and both claim their prosecutions are politically motivated. Trump’s comments equating Netanyahu’s legal troubles to his own create a symbolic bond between the two men — reinforcing an “us versus them” narrative against perceived deep state forces.
While the trial proceeds in Israel, Trump’s public stance may further polarize Israeli politics. Netanyahu’s opponents view the legal process as essential for upholding democratic accountability, while his supporters echo Trump’s sentiment that the charges are designed to weaken a leader who has served Israel with unmatched longevity and resolve.
Internationally, Trump’s comments risk being interpreted as meddling in the internal affairs of an allied democracy. Yet for Trump, whose foreign policy increasingly blurs lines between personal loyalty and statecraft, this move is consistent with his broader approach to global leadership — transactional, personalistic, and unafraid to disrupt established norms.
Whether Trump’s call for a pardon will influence Israel’s internal legal processes remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the President of the United States has openly declared his support for Netanyahu not just in spirit, but in legal absolution — a move that may reverberate across both nations’ political landscapes for months to come.
Trump Urges Israel
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