Trump demands Israel drop Netanyahu’s corruption trial, calls it “Witch Hunt”

US President Donald Trump has called for the cancellation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial, denouncing the proceedings as a “ridiculous Witch Hunt” and demanding that they be halted immediately. 

“This TRAVESTY OF ‘JUSTICE’ CAN NOT BE ALLOWED!” Trump wrote in all caps, praising Netanyahu as a “Great Hero” and insisting that he either be pardoned or have his trial scrapped outright, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

“Such a WITCH HUNT, for a man who has given so much, is unthinkable to me. He deserves much better than this, and so does the State of Israel,” Trump added, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname “Bibi.”

Netanyahu has been standing trial since May 2020 on charges of fraud, bribery, and breach of trust across three overlapping cases involving gifts from wealthy businessmen and alleged regulatory favours in exchange for favourable media coverage. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and accused prosecutors of launching a politically motivated campaign against him.

In his latest post, Trump showered praise on Netanyahu for his role during the recent 12-day war against Iran, lauding the Israeli leader's strength and resolve. “Bibi and I just went through HELL together, fighting a very tough and brilliant longtime enemy of Israel, Iran, and Bibi could not have been better, sharper, or stronger in his LOVE for the incredible Holy Land,” Trump said.

Trump also echoed Netanyahu’s previous derisions of the legal case, summarising the accusations as being “concerning cigars, a Bugs Bunny doll, and numerous other unfair charges.” He vowed to stand by the prime minister: “It was the United States of America that saved Israel, and now it is going to be the United States of America that saves Bibi Netanyahu.”

This is not Trump’s first foray into the judicial affairs of foreign allies. Earlier this year, when French far-right politician Marine Le Pen was convicted of embezzlement and barred from running in elections, Trump responded by labelling her case another “Witch Hunt” and calling for her release, despite her not being jailed.

Trump has also taken a hardline stance against the International Criminal Court after it issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes. The Trump administration responded by sanctioning officials of the court.

The president’s effusive defence of Netanyahu comes just days after he publicly rebuked Israeli leadership for violating a ceasefire he had brokered between Israel and Iran. While Trump ultimately joined Israel’s campaign against Iran — authorizing B2 bomber strikes on the Fordow nuclear facility — he has at times taken positions that diverged from Netanyahu’s, such as ending US airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen without securing a ceasefire for Israel, and engaging with Iran on its nuclear program despite Israeli objections.

Trump also notably skipped Israel during his most recent Middle East tour, a move that drew quiet consternation from Israeli officials.

Reactions to Trump’s latest comments were swift. Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi welcomed the statement, saying Netanyahu’s trial “has long since cost us in national security,” and reposted the Truth Social post with the caption, “Every word!”

However, not all within Netanyahu’s governing coalition were comfortable with the US president’s intervention. Simcha Rothman, head of the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, wrote on X: “It is not the role of the US president to interfere in legal proceedings in the State of Israel.” Yet Rothman agreed with the substance of Trump’s criticism and urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog to bring the trial to an end.

In contrast, Yair Lapid, leader of the opposition party Yesh Atid, dismissed Trump’s remarks as a political manoeuvre.

Speaking to Israeli media, Lapid suggested that Trump was offering Netanyahu rhetorical support in advance of pressuring him to end the 20-month war in Gaza — a move strongly opposed by many in Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition. “I assume this is compensation [Trump] is giving [Netanyahu] because he is going to bend him on the Gaza issue,” Lapid said.

By Tamilla Hasanova