U.S. President Donald Trump has sent a letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, advocating for a pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing a corruption trial. Netanyahu has consistently denied the allegations against him and has pleaded not guilty.

In his correspondence, Trump acknowledged the independence of the Israeli justice system but described the prosecution of Netanyahu as politically motivated and unjustified. He stated, "This 'case' against Bibi, who has fought alongside me for a long time, including against the very tough adversary of Israel, Iran, is a political, unjustified prosecution."

This is not the first time Trump has made such a request; he previously suggested during a speech to the Israeli parliament that Herzog should grant Netanyahu a pardon, dismissing the charges as trivial. Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 on multiple counts, including receiving gifts valued at approximately 700,000 shekels (around $210,000) from businessmen, which included luxury items such as champagne and cigars.

While the role of the Israeli president is largely ceremonial, the president does have the authority to grant pardons under certain circumstances. Netanyahu's trial, which commenced in 2020, has experienced numerous delays due to ongoing regional conflicts and instability. Netanyahu has characterized his legal troubles as a left-wing attempt to undermine a democratically elected right-wing leader.