US 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”.
Trump criticized the legal proceedings against Netanyahu, labeling them a “witch hunt” — a phrase he frequently uses to describe his own legal troubles in the United States.
Netanyahu 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.
“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.
He also claimed, “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”.
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.
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.
Trump criticized what he called “the biggest load [of bombs] that we’ve seen” and said: “I’m not happy with Israel.” He added bluntly: “Iran and Israel have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the fuck they’re doing”.
