Trump does not hide his position on the case of Netanyahu, whom he described as “a respectable and decisive leader in times of war.” The American president noted that he fully respects the independence of the Israeli judiciary, but believes that the allegations against the prime minister are “unfounded and politicized.”
Netanyahu, who has been facing accusations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust since 2020, has repeatedly rejected the allegations, calling them a “political campaign.” The case concerns the relations of the Prime Minister and his family with influential owners of media companies and accusations of using these connections for personal and political benefits.
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“Witch-hunt”
The American president had already appealed earlier, in June 2025, to immediately stop the trial, calling it a “witch hunt”. At that time, the Israeli prime minister expressed gratitude for the support, while the opposition in Israel criticized Trump for interfering in the country's internal affairs.
A month ago, Trump, speaking in the Israeli parliament, again called for a pardon for the prime minister. In his speech, he referred to one of the allegations regarding alleged financial benefits, saying: “And cigars and champagne? Who the hell cares.”
President Hercog's office responded to Trump's appeal, emphasizing that the Israeli leader has great respect for his American counterpart, but reminded him of the need to follow legal procedures. Under Israeli law, an application for a pardon can only be submitted by the person applying for it or a member of his or her immediate family. So far, neither Netanyahu nor his relatives have made such a request.
The law in Israel provides for the possibility of pardoning a person convicted by a court and, in special cases, also a person who has not yet been convicted. As the Haaretz daily reminds, such a precedent has occurred only once in the country's history. The newspaper, critical of the prime minister, notes that pardoning Netanyahu before the end of the trial could cause serious political and legal controversy.
The case of Prime Minister Netanyahu continues to arouse great emotions both in Israel and abroad. In the face of pressure from Trump, the Israeli authorities face the difficult challenge of balancing compliance with the law and pressure from one of their most important international allies.
