Trump urges Herzog to pardon Netanyahu, calling corruption trial “political and unjustified”

US President Donald Trump has stepped directly into Israel’s internal politics, sending a letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog urging him to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the letter, Trump blasted the corruption charges against Netanyahu as “political” and “unjustified.”

The appeal comes a month after a fragile US-brokered ceasefire took hold in Gaza, where Israeli attacks have killed more than 69,000 Palestinians, including at least 20,000 children, according to UN investigators who have described the assault as genocide.

“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. “This includes my continued work with key Middle East leaders to add many additional countries to the world changing Abraham Accords.”

Israeli outlets published copies of the letter on Wednesday, showing Trump’s attempt to reward Netanyahu for agreeing to the ceasefire, and to position himself, once again, as a power broker in the Middle East.

“Isaac, we have established a great relationship, one that I am very thankful for and honoured by,” Trump added. “Now that we have achieved these unprecedented successes, and are keeping Hamas in check, it is time to let Bibi unite Israel by pardoning him, and ending that lawfare once and for all.”

The Israeli presidency is largely ceremonial, but Herzog does have the authority to issue pardons. However, he cannot do so while a trial is ongoing. In a carefully worded response, Herzog’s office said that “anyone seeking a pardon must submit a formal request in accordance with the established procedures,” while also praising Trump’s “unwavering support of Israel.”

Trump’s letter, laced with self-congratulation, repeated his false claim that he brought “peace in the region for at least 3,000 years.” Israel was founded in 1948.

The call aligns with Trump’s growing pattern of championing right-wing leaders abroad. Earlier this year, the US poured $40bn into stabilising Argentina’s economy under libertarian President Javier Milei.