United States President Donald Trump has called on Israel to either cancel the ongoing corruption trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or grant him a pardon, describing the embattled Israeli leader as a “great hero” and “warrior.”
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, Trump criticised the legal proceedings against Netanyahu, labelling them a “witch hunt” — a phrase he frequently uses to describe his own legal troubles in the United States.
“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, claiming he had learned the Israeli leader was scheduled to appear in court next Monday.
Netanyahu, who has been Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, was indicted in 2019 on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three separate cases.
He has denied all allegations and pleaded not guilty when his trial began in 2020. Cross-examination in the case started on June 3, 2025, and is expected to last about a year, according to Israeli media, Reuters said.
Under Israeli law, only President Isaac Herzog has the authority to grant a pardon. However, Herzog has reportedly told local media that “a pardon is not currently on the table” and that “no such request had been made” by Netanyahu or his legal team.
Trump went further in his post, claiming: “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.”
The former U.S. president did not elaborate on what measures the U.S. could take to support Netanyahu in his legal battle, but the remark was interpreted as a reference to American support for Israeli military operations, including strikes against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
The unusually warm remarks for Netanyahu came just one day after Trump publicly rebuked Israel over its bombing campaign following a ceasefire agreement with Iran. Speaking to reporters, he criticized what he called “the biggest load [of bombs] that we’ve seen” and said: “I’m not happy with Israel.”
