Trump Urges Herzog to Pardon Netanyahu, Calls Corruption Trial “Political, Unjustified Prosecution”
Key Facts
- President Donald Trump formally asks Israel’s president to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling the corruption case political.
- Netanyahu thanks Trump for his “incredible support” and says he looks forward to continued partnership on regional peace.
- President Herzog praises Trump’s support but emphasizes that a formal request from Netanyahu or his family is legally required.
- Coalition members cheer Trump’s appeal, while the opposition warns of foreign interference and notes that a pardon requires an admission of guilt under Israeli law.
by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff
JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump has formally asked Israeli President Isaac Herzog to grant a full pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, marking the strongest U.S. intervention yet in the long-running corruption trial that has deeply polarized Israeli society.
In a letter delivered Wednesday morning, Trump praised Netanyahu as a “formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister” and argued that Israel had entered “a time of peace,” thanks to joint U.S.-Israeli efforts to expand the Abraham Accords and stabilize the region following the Gaza ceasefire.
“I hereby call on you to fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu,” Trump wrote, describing the charges as a “political, unjustified prosecution.” Trump emphasized that he “absolutely respects the independence of the Israeli Justice System,” but insisted that the case has become a distraction undermining national unity. “It is time to let Bibi unite Israel by pardoning him, and ending that lawfare once and for all,” he wrote.
Trump has repeatedly defended Netanyahu in recent months — including from the Knesset podium in October — but Wednesday’s letter marked the first official U.S. request for presidential intervention.
Netanyahu Thanks Trump, Touts Partnership
Netanyahu quickly expressed gratitude, posting on X: “Thank you, President Trump, for your incredible support. As usual, you get right to the point and call it like it is. I look forward to continuing our partnership to bolster security and expand peace.”
Netanyahu is on trial for one count of bribery and three counts each of fraud and breach of trust across three cases dating back to 2020. He denies all allegations, calling them a smear campaign orchestrated by political opponents within the media, police, and judiciary.
Testifying Wednesday, Netanyahu invoked Trump’s intervention, claiming world leaders “are amazed” by the charges.
Herzog: A Pardon Requires a Formal Request
President Herzog acknowledged receiving Trump’s letter and praised him for “unwavering support of Israel” — including his role in returning Israeli hostages, reshaping regional diplomacy, and securing the present ceasefire.
However, Herzog reiterated that the law requires a formal request from the individual seeking a pardon or a member of their immediate family. Neither Netanyahu nor his relatives have submitted one, though Israeli media have reported discussions about whether Sara Netanyahu may file on her husband’s behalf.
“The president holds great respect for President Trump,” Herzog’s office said, “but anyone seeking a pardon must submit a formal request in accordance with the established procedures.”
Israel’s president has the authority to grant pardons even before a trial concludes, though such pre-conviction pardons are exceedingly rare.
Political Reactions: Coalition Cheers, Opposition Decries Intervention
Netanyahu’s coalition members welcomed Trump’s appeal. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called the indictments “fabricated and disgraceful,” urging Herzog to “listen to President Trump.”
Opposition leaders slammed the move as inappropriate foreign interference and warned Netanyahu against using Trump to escape legal accountability.
“Reminder: Israeli law states that the first condition for receiving a pardon is an admission of guilt and an expression of remorse,” Opposition Leader Yair Lapid wrote.
Democrats alliance chair Yair Golan accused Netanyahu of “begging Trump to help him get a pardon,” adding that if Netanyahu cannot govern and stand trial simultaneously, “he should resign.”
Growing Scrutiny of U.S. Influence
The letter comes amid heightened scrutiny of Washington’s involvement in Israeli decision-making during the fragile Gaza ceasefire. Recent visits by Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were labeled “Bibi-sitting” by Israeli commentators — a claim both governments denied.
Still, Trump’s pardon request is likely to intensify debate over the boundaries of U.S.-Israeli cooperation as Netanyahu’s trial drags on with no end in sight.
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