Trump calls for Netanyahu’s corruption trial to be cancelled
US president calls Israeli prime minister a ‘warrior’ and a ‘great hero’ – and that the case against him is a ‘witch hunt’
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for Israel to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or cancel his corruption trial, saying the US would save him like it did his country.
Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 in Israel on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust – all of which Netanyahu denies. The trial began in 2020 and involves three criminal cases. He has pleaded not guilty.
“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 Truth Social, adding that he had learned that Netanyahu was due to appear in court on Monday.
Israeli media have reported that cross-examination of Netanyahu began on June 3 in a Tel Aviv court and was expected to take about a year to complete.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has the power to pardon Netanyahu, but has been quoted by Israeli media as saying that a pardon is “not currently on the table”. He also said that “no such request had been made”, according to the reports.
Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid said Trump should keep out of the matter. “With all due respect and gratitude to the president of the United States, he’s not supposed to intervene in a legal process of an independent state,” Lapid said.