WASHINGTON, Jun 26 (Alliance News): Former US President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for Israel to either pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or cancel his ongoing corruption trial, stating that the United States had “saved” Israel and would now do the same for its embattled leader.
Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote, “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).”
He said he had learned Netanyahu was due to appear in court on Monday and expressed outrage over the continuation of the legal proceedings.
Netanyahu, who is facing charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three separate cases, has denied all allegations. His trial, which began in 2020, is currently at the cross-examination stage in a Tel Aviv court and is expected to last approximately a year.
While Israeli President Isaac Herzog has the constitutional authority to pardon Netanyahu, Israeli media reported that no such request has been made and a pardon is “not currently on the table.”
Trump, referring to Netanyahu as a “warrior,” emphasized US support for Israel, saying, “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.”
He did not clarify what specific steps the US might take to assist Netanyahu’s legal battle, raising questions about the practicality of his remarks.
The former US president likened Netanyahu’s prosecution to his own legal troubles, branding the trial a “witch hunt,” a phrase he frequently uses for the criminal cases filed against him in the US.
Trump’s comments come amid visible strains in US-Israel ties, especially after his criticism of Israel’s airstrikes on Iran, which were conducted shortly after the announcement of a ceasefire.
“Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs, the likes of which I’ve never seen before,” Trump said. “I’m not happy with Israel.”
Referring to the long-standing Israel-Iran conflict, he added bluntly, “They’ve been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f*** they’re doing.”
Trump’s remarks have sparked debate in both Washington and Tel Aviv, with analysts calling his statements “unprecedented” in their directness and political implications.
