Trump urges Israel to pardon Netanyahu in corruption case, sparking
concerns over US influence
[November 13, 2025]
By MELANIE LIDMAN
JERUSALEM (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday sent a letter
to Israel's president asking him to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu in a long-running corruption trial that has bitterly divided
the country.
It was the latest attempt by Trump to intervene in the case on behalf of
Netanyahu, raising questions about undue American influence over
internal Israeli affairs. Trump also called for a pardon for Netanyahu
during a speech to Israel's parliament last month, when he made a brief
visit to promote his ceasefire plan for the war in Gaza.
In Wednesday's letter to President Isaac Herzog, Trump called the
corruption case “political, unjustified prosecution.”
“As the Great State of Israel and the amazing Jewish People move past
the terribly difficult times of the last three years, I hereby call on
you to fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been a formidable and
decisive War Time Prime Minister, and is now leading Israel into a time
of peace,” Trump wrote.
Netanyahu is the only sitting prime minister in Israeli history to stand
trial, after being charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting
bribes in three separate cases accusing him of exchanging favors with
wealthy political supporters.
Netanyahu rejects the allegations, and in Trump-like language has
condemned the case as a witch hunt orchestrated by the media, police and
judiciary.
In a post on X late Thursday, Netanyahu expressed gratitude toward
Trump, though it wasn't explicitly tied to the pardon request.
“Thank you, President Trump, for your incredible support. As usual, you
get right to the point and call it like it is,” he wrote. “I look
forward to continuing our partnership to bolster security and expand
peace.”
Netanyahu has taken the stand multiple times over the past year, but the
case has been repeatedly delayed as he has dealt with wars and unrest
stemming from Hamas-led militant attacks of October 2023.
Israel's presidency is a largely ceremonial office, but the president
does have the authority to grant pardons.
Herzog acknowledged receiving the letter, but said that anyone seeking a
presidential pardon must submit a formal request. Herzog has declined to
say how he would respond to a request by Netanyahu, saying publicly only
that he believes the trial has been a distraction and source of division
for the country and that he would prefer to see Netanyahu and the
prosecution reach a settlement.
When Trump called for a pardon in his speech last month, he received a
raucous standing ovation from Netanyahu's allies in parliament.
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President Donald Trump talks with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, Monday, Oct. 13,
2025, in Jerusalem. (Chip Somodevilla/Pool via AP, file)
But it has also raised questions about American influence over
Israeli policies, especially relating to security in the Gaza Strip.
Those concerns came to a head during a series of visits from senior
American leaders, from Vice President JD Vance to Secretary of State
Marco Rubio. Israeli media called the visits “Bibi-sitting,” a word
play on Netanyahu's nickname, saying the officials were coming to
ensure that Israel continues to hold up its side of the fragile
ceasefire. Both Netanyahu and Vance rejected the suggestions and say
the countries have a tight partnership.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid noted that the pardon could have
unintended consequences for Netanyahu. “Reminder: Israeli law
stipulates that the first condition for receiving a pardon is an
admission of guilt and an expression of remorse for those actions,”
he wrote on X.
According to Israeli law, a presidential pardon can only happen for
Netanyahu if Netanyahu makes a formal request, which sets in motion
a long procedure that includes recommendations from the Justice
Ministry, said Amir Fuchs, a senior researcher at the
Jerusalem-based think tank Israel Democracy Institute and an expert
in constitutional law.
Fuchs added that pardons are usually issued for people who are
convicted of a crime. “Pardon is a word for forgiveness, a pardon
without some kind of admission of guilt is very unusual and even
illegal,” said Fuchs.
He also said that if a pardon were granted after the Trump letter,
it risked giving a “green light” to corruption. “The message will be
undermining of rule of law,” he said.
In June, Trump also condemned Netanyahu’s trial as a “WITCH HUNT,”
using the same language that both he and Netanyahu have long used to
describe their legal woes. Both contend they are the victims of
hostile media, crooked law enforcement and political opponents.
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