The president cited his ongoing work to implement lasting peace in the Middle East alongside Netanyahu.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog received a letter from President Donald Trump urging him to grant a full pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his long-standing corruption case, his office said Wednesday.
Netanyahu has faced multiple charges for the past five years, including fraud and bribery, and has pleaded not guilty. In the letter released by Herzog’s office on Wednesday, Trump urged the Israeli president to “fully pardon” the “formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister,” citing the pair’s ongoing work to implement lasting peace in the Middle East.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu has stood tall for Israel in the face of strong adversaries and long odds, and his attention cannot be unnecessarily diverted,” Trump wrote.
“While I absolutely respect the independence of the Israeli Justice System, and its requirements, I believe that this ‘case’ against Bibi, who has fought alongside me for a long time, including against the very tough adversary of Israel, Iran, is apolitical, unjustified prosecution,” he continued.
Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 for three separate cases of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes and extravagant gifts, but the prime minister has continued to deny any wrongdoing. Trump has echoed calls for Netanyahu’s pardon, calling the case a “WITCH HUNT” on Truth Social and brushing off the allegations in appearances alongside the prime minister.
“Give him a pardon, come on,” Trump said in an October address to the Knesset in Jerusalem.
The White House confirmed the administration sent the letter, but declined to comment on Trump’s request.
In a statement this morning, Herzog’s office said the president holds Trump “in the highest regard” for his support of Israel and his work to reach a peace deal in the Middle East, but noted that in order to receive an official pardon, Netanyahu would have to submit an official request himself.
“Alongside and not withstanding this, as the Office of the President has made clear throughout, anyone seeking a Presidential pardon must submit a formal request in accordance with the established procedures,” a spokesperson for Herzog said in the statement.
Requests for pardons aren’t typically considered before legal proceedings have been completed, according to Israeli law. Netanyahu’s case has been continuously delayed due to the war in Gaza.
Netanyahu on Wednesday afternoon took to X to thank Trump for his support on the pardon.
“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.”