Trump Demands Immediate End to Netanyahu Trial or Pardon for "Great Hero"

Trump Demands Immediate End to Netanyahu Trial or Pardon for "Great Hero"

WASHINGTON D.C. – In a highly unusual intervention into the judicial affairs of a sovereign nation, President Donald Trump has publicly called for the immediate cancellation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ongoing corruption trial or for him to be granted a pardon. Trump made the demand in a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform, describing the legal proceedings against Netanyahu as a "ridiculous Witch Hunt."

"I was shocked to hear that the State of Israel... is continuing its ridiculous Witch Hunt against their Great War Time Prime Minister!" Trump wrote, using Netanyahu's nickname "Bibi." He continued, "Bibi Netanyahu's trial should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero, who has done so much for the State."

Trump's statement, made just days after a reported ceasefire in the recent conflict involving Israel and Iran, further asserted, "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." This remark has been interpreted by some as a reference to U.S. support for Israel's security and an attempt to leverage that relationship to influence the Israeli legal system.

Prime Minister Netanyahu is currently on trial in three separate corruption cases, facing charges including bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the charges are politically motivated and part of a "witch hunt" aimed at ousting him from power—a phrase frequently echoed by Trump in reference to his own legal challenges.

The Israeli judicial system is considered independent, and the court on Friday rejected Netanyahu's latest request to postpone trial hearings, citing a lack of detailed justification. Trump's demand has sparked varied reactions within Israel. While several of Netanyahu's Likud party allies quickly praised Trump's statement and echoed calls for the trial's termination, opposition figures criticized the comments as an inappropriate interference in Israel's internal affairs and judicial process.

The timing of Trump's remarks, coinciding with a period of heightened regional tension, adds another layer of complexity to the already intricate relationship between the two nations. It remains to be seen what, if any, practical impact Trump's public demand will have on the ongoing legal proceedings in Israel.