U.S. President Donald Trump formally urges Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Prime Minister Netanyahu, calling his prosecution “political and unjustified.”
In a stunning diplomatic gesture, U.S. President Donald Trump has formally appealed to Israeli President Isaac Herzog to grant a full pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling the corruption trial against him “a political and unjustified prosecution.”
The signed presidential letter, delivered Wednesday morning to the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, was described by Israeli officials as “historic and unprecedented in tone.”
Trump opened the letter with characteristic flourish:
“It is my honor to write to you at this historic time, as we have, together, just secured peace that has been sought for at least 3,000 years.”
Referencing his renewed engagement with Middle East diplomacy and the expansion of the Abraham Accords, Trump urged Herzog to “allow Israel to move beyond division and let Bibi lead the nation into a new era of peace.”
“Prime Minister Netanyahu has stood tall for Israel in the face of strong adversaries and long odds,” Trump wrote. “His attention cannot be unnecessarily diverted. This case against him is political, unjustified lawfare.”
Trump emphasized his deep respect for the independence of Israel’s judiciary, but said it was time to “end the unnecessary persecution of a wartime leader who has fought alongside America against the very tough adversary of Israel, Iran.”
The letter also referenced recent breakthroughs in regional diplomacy, including the return of hostages and a “new framework for peace” emerging in Gaza and the broader Middle East.
“Now that we have achieved these unprecedented successes, and are keeping Hamas in check, it is time to let Bibi unite Israel,” Trump declared.
The Office of President Herzog confirmed receipt of the letter and responded with cautious diplomacy:
“President Herzog holds President Trump in the highest regard and deeply appreciates his unwavering support for Israel, his tremendous contribution to the return of the hostages, and his efforts to ensure Israel’s security.”
However, Herzog’s office also reaffirmed that any request for a presidential pardon must follow formal legal procedures, signaling that Israel’s constitutional process will remain intact.
Trump’s intervention marks a dramatic new chapter in the Netanyahu trial saga, fusing legal drama with international politics. It also reinforces Trump’s ongoing claim to the mantle of Israel’s most pro-Zionist U.S. president, underscoring his continued influence in Jerusalem’s political landscape.
