WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday publicly called for the cancellation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s long-running corruption trial, describing the legal proceedings against his closest ally in the Middle East as a “witch-hunt” and urging either dismissal or a presidential pardon.
“Bibi Netanyahu’s trial should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero, who has done so much for the State (of Israel),” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “Such a WITCH HUNT, for a man who has given so much, is unthinkable to me.”
Netanyahu, indicted in 2019 on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, has repeatedly denied the allegations. His trial, now in its fifth year, entered a crucial phase earlier this month with his first appearance for cross-examination in a Tel Aviv courtroom — a process expected to stretch over the coming year.
The Israeli prime minister remains defiant amid legal scrutiny and recent conflict. His government weathered a 12-day war with Iran and rising domestic criticism over his post-ceasefire military actions. Despite the turbulence, Trump’s praise for Netanyahu remains unwavering. “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,” he declared.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog holds the constitutional power to issue a pardon, but local media have reported that no such request has been submitted. Herzog himself said a pardon is “not currently on the table.”
Trump’s comments come just a day after he issued an uncharacteristically sharp rebuke of Israel’s actions following a US-brokered ceasefire with Iran. “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. “I’m not happy with Israel.”
His remarks have drawn scrutiny given the timing — Netanyahu’s trial resumed with intensified media coverage this week — and Trump’s continuing efforts to position himself as the ultimate broker of peace and protector of Israel’s security interests.
The Israeli leader, often referred to by his nickname “Bibi,” has long touted his close alliance with Trump, especially during previous US-Israel policy shifts under Trump’s presidency, including the relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem and the Abraham Accords.
However, Netanyahu’s mounting legal troubles have cast a long shadow over his tenure. The trial revolves around three separate cases alleging the Israeli premier received expensive gifts from wealthy businessmen and sought favorable media coverage in exchange for regulatory favors.
Despite these charges, Netanyahu remains politically entrenched and bolstered by strong support from right-wing and religious voters. Trump’s calls for legal intervention, while legally irrelevant to Israel’s judicial process, are symbolically potent in a politically charged environment.
In Israel’s polarized political landscape, Trump’s backing may embolden Netanyahu’s supporters while further angering critics who view the trial as essential to upholding rule of law.
Meanwhile, legal analysts in both the US and Israel noted that while Trump’s statement holds no legal sway, it underscores the deep intertwining of judicial issues and political allegiance in both countries.
As Netanyahu’s legal saga continues, and as regional volatility increases following the Iran-Israel-US triangle of conflict, Trump’s intervention adds another unpredictable layer to an already complex situation.
