US President Trump has penned a letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog requesting that he grant a full pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently on trial for corruption charges. The letter suggests that Netanyahu's case against him is "a political, unjustified prosecution."
In the letter, Trump expresses his admiration for Netanyahu and claims that he believes Netanyahu has fought alongside him against Iran. He also states that he thinks Netanyahu's case is a "ridiculous witch hunt."
The Israeli president's office stated that Herzog holds Trump in high regard and appreciates his support of Israel, but noted that any request for a pardon must be submitted according to the established procedures.
This move has sparked controversy across the Israeli political spectrum. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has welcomed the intervention, while opposition leader Yair Lapid has expressed concern about the legitimacy of the request.
Netanyahu's trial on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust began in May 2020, with Netanyahu's testimony starting in December 2024. The proceedings are expected to continue for several more years.
This is not the first time Trump has intervened in ongoing judicial proceedings abroad. In July, he urged Brazilian authorities to drop their prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was convicted of plotting a coup. He also came out in support of French far-right leader Marine Le Pen after she was barred from running for office due to embezzlement charges.
Trump's interventions have been criticized by many as an abuse of power and interference with the judicial systems of other countries.
In the letter, Trump expresses his admiration for Netanyahu and claims that he believes Netanyahu has fought alongside him against Iran. He also states that he thinks Netanyahu's case is a "ridiculous witch hunt."
The Israeli president's office stated that Herzog holds Trump in high regard and appreciates his support of Israel, but noted that any request for a pardon must be submitted according to the established procedures.
This move has sparked controversy across the Israeli political spectrum. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has welcomed the intervention, while opposition leader Yair Lapid has expressed concern about the legitimacy of the request.
Netanyahu's trial on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust began in May 2020, with Netanyahu's testimony starting in December 2024. The proceedings are expected to continue for several more years.
This is not the first time Trump has intervened in ongoing judicial proceedings abroad. In July, he urged Brazilian authorities to drop their prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was convicted of plotting a coup. He also came out in support of French far-right leader Marine Le Pen after she was barred from running for office due to embezzlement charges.
Trump's interventions have been criticized by many as an abuse of power and interference with the judicial systems of other countries.
! Trump's letter to Herzog is, like, so extra 
. I get that he likes Netanyahu, but come on, man 
! This whole thing feels like a classic case of "he said, she said" 
. On one hand, you've got Trump saying Netanyahu's being persecuted 
, and on the other hand, Herzog's office is all, "nope, not gonna happen" 
. Meanwhile, Netanyahu's trial has been ongoing for ages, with no end in sight 
. This whole thing just feels like a huge headache 
. And let's be real, Trump's track record on this sort of thing is, um, questionable 
. What do you guys think? 
I don't think it's cool when a former president just reaches out to another country's leader asking them to pardon their buddy who's in trouble... like, what even is that? 
. I don't know about Trump's history with Iran and Netanyahu, but it doesn't sound good 
.
. Trump's always been a bit of a wild card, but this takes the cake 
.
. The thing that gets me is Netanyahu's trial - corrupt charges or not, shouldn't everyone be held accountable for their actions? 
I'd love to see some flowcharts on this one to break down all the different sides and their perspectives... 
? I heard Netanyahu's trial is super long, like 4 years or something... that's even longer than our semester breaks 
. I'm more worried about the school budget cuts and whether our school will get new textbooks or not 
. Trump's interference with Israeli politics just makes me think about how much drama can go on in one country, you know? Can't we just focus on getting good grades and enjoying high school instead of all this international news nonsense? 
, which is already a huge waste of time and resources. I get it, Trump wants to support Israel, but come on, can't they just let Netanyahu face justice like a normal human being? It feels like he's playing politics with people's lives.
. I mean, come on, is this really just about "fighting against Iran" like they're old buddies? It sounds like Netanyahu's trying to buy himself some favors... not cool, IMHO 
... I just saw this article and I gotta say, Trump's interference in Netanyahu's trial is super shady 
The whole thing feels really informal and impolite, especially considering how serious these charges are. 
i mean, if hes so convinced that netanyahu is innocent, why not help him out by testifying or somethin on his own behalf? instead of just sendin a letter and expectin the other guy to just magic up a pardon... its just too convenient 
.
.