WASHINGTON: In a dramatic intervention that sparked political repercussions in Washington and Tel Aviv, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday demanded an immediate end to the long-running corruption trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Calling Netanyahu a “great hero” and a “warrior,” Trump urged Israel to either cancel the proceedings or grant a full pardon.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, was indicted in 2019 on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate criminal cases. He denied all allegations and pleaded not guilty. The trial, which began in 2020, is now in the cross-examination phase, with hearings underway in Tel Aviv on June 3. The process is expected to take approximately one year.
“The trial of Bibi Netanyahu should be CANCELED IMMEDIATELY, or a pardon should be granted to a great hero who has done so much for the State (of Israel),” Trump said on his social media platform, Truth Social. “It is the United States of America that saved Israel, and now it will be the United States of America that saves Bibi Netanyahu,” he added.
Trump’s remark referring to the United States “saving” Israel appears linked to Washington’s steadfast military and diplomatic support for Israeli operations, particularly against Iran. The former president also called Netanyahu’s trial a “witch hunt” — the same term he frequently uses to describe his own legal battles.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has the authority to pardon Netanyahu, but according to local media, no such request has been submitted and a pardon is not currently being considered.
Trump’s comments come amid tensions between the two governments following Israeli airstrikes on Iran launched just after a ceasefire agreement. The United States would have played a central role in negotiating a temporary cessation of hostilities.
“Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they came out and dropped a bunch of bombs, like I’ve never seen before,” Trump told reporters. “I’m not happy with Israel.”
In a blunt critique of the broader regional conflict, Trump added: “They’re fighting so long and so hard, they don’t know what they’re doing.” »
The remarks signal a complex shift in Trump’s traditionally strong support for Netanyahu and Israeli defense policy. While the Trump administration was known for its pro-Israel stance, including moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and negotiating normalization deals with Arab states, its recent statements suggest growing frustration with Israeli decision-making in the latest Middle East escalation.
For now, Netanyahu’s legal fate remains in the hands of the Israeli justice system, while Trump’s unexpected request for his ally’s exoneration injects new volatility into an already tense political environment.
