U.S. President Donald Trump has formally intervened in Israel's domestic legal affairs, sending a letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog urging a pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing an ongoing corruption trial. The move has been widely criticized as an unprecedented overreach into the independent judiciary of a sovereign nation .
In a letter dated November 12, 2025, President Trump called on President Herzog to "fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu," describing the long-standing corruption case against the prime minister as a "political, unjustified prosecution" . While Trump stated he "absolutely respect[s] the independence of the Israeli Justice System," his direct appeal to override its process has been viewed as a profound contradiction .
This is not the first time Trump has publicly pressured Israel on this matter. Last month, during a speech to the Israeli Knesset, he looked toward Herzog and said, "Hey, I have an idea, Mr. president. Why don't you give him a pardon?" adding, "Cigars and champagne, who the hell cares about that?" in reference to the gifts at the center of one of the corruption cases . Netanyahu, who has denied all wrongdoing, thanked Trump for his "incredible support" and for "call[ing] it like it is" .
The legal case against Netanyahu is not a minor affair, but a serious trial involving grave charges. He was indicted in 2019 on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust across three separate cases, making him the first sitting Israeli prime minister to face criminal prosecution . Case 1000 involves allegations that Netanyahu and his wife received gifts of expensive cigars, champagne, and jewelry worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from wealthy businessmen in exchange for political favors . Case 2000 centers on recorded conversations where Netanyahu allegedly negotiated with a newspaper publisher for more favorable media coverage in return for promoting legislation to harm a competing newspaper . Case 4000, considered the most serious, this case alleges Netanyahu promoted regulatory decisions worth hundreds of millions of dollars to a major telecom company in exchange for positive coverage on a news website it controlled .
President Herzog's office responded diplomatically but firmly, stating that while he holds Trump "in the highest regard," anyone seeking a pardon must "submit a formal request in accordance with the established procedures" . This highlights a major legal obstacle: Netanyahu himself has not submitted a formal pardon request, and under Israeli law, a pardon typically requires an admission of guilt and an expression of remorse from the accused . This is a step Netanyahu has been unwilling to take, as he continues to plead not guilty and denounces the trial as a political "witch-hunt" .
Legal experts in Israel suggest that even if Herzog were to consider a pardon, the decision would likely be challenged immediately in Israel's High Court of Justice, which could block it . Furthermore, a presidential pardon for a sitting prime minister on trial for corruption would be seen by many Israelis as a devastating blow to the country's supposed democracy and their hypothetical rule of law.
The letter ignited immediate and strong reactions across the Israeli political spectrum. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid firmly rejected Trump's intervention, stating, "We are a sovereign country; there's a limit to interference" . He and others emphasized that the law requires an admission of guilt for a pardon, a core tenet of justice that would be undermined by political interference .
In contrast, far-right members of Netanyahu's coalition, such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, enthusiastically supported Trump's move, urging Herzog to "listen to President Trump!" . This incident is not an isolated one for the U.S. president, who has a pattern of publicly intervening in foreign judicial proceedings to support his political allies, having previously made similar calls regarding legal cases involving former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and French far-right leader Marine Le Pen .