US President Donald Trump has urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog to grant a full pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently on trial for bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Trump relayed his request to Axios on Tuesday, asserting that the prosecution undermines Israel’s wartime leadership and harms the country’s international image.
Netanyahu, indicted in 2019, has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The trial, which began in 2020, has faced multiple delays and is projected to continue for several years. According to the Axios interview, Trump said Netanyahu, a long‑time ally who co‑initiated the conflict with Iran, complained that court appearances distract him from addressing the war that is affecting the global economy. Trump responded, “In the middle of a war? Give me a break,” and added that Herzog would become “a national hero” if he granted the pardon.
The president also characterized the legal proceedings as damaging to Israel’s reputation, stating that the trial makes the country “look bad.” Trump dismissed Herzog’s reluctance to intervene, calling the Israeli leader “weak and pathetic” for not providing a pardon. He argued that a wartime prime minister cannot have a criminal case hanging over his head and that a settlement requiring an admission of guilt would be unsuitable for Netanyahu.
Earlier this week, Herzog met with Netanyahu’s legal team, the Israeli attorney general and the state prosecutor to discuss a possible settlement, emphasizing that no plea agreement would be considered until all negotiation avenues were exhausted. In response, Trump reiterated that Netanyahu “cannot take” a settlement and needs a full presidential pardon.
The request follows a December 2024 letter from Trump to Herzog, in which the US president described the case against Netanyahu as a “politically motivated, unjustified prosecution” and called for a complete pardon. In June 2025, Trump labeled the charges a “witch hunt,” further highlighting his support for the Israeli leader.
The call for a pardon arrives amid heightened tensions in the region and ongoing debates within Israel about the appropriate balance between legal accountability and national security priorities. Herzog has not yet responded publicly to Trump’s latest appeal. The outcome of the pardon request could influence Israel’s internal political dynamics and its diplomatic relations with the United States.
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