Trump Pushes Herzog to Pardon Netanyahu, Calls It a Chance to Become a 'National Hero'

Donald Trump is urging Israeli President Isaac Herzog to grant a presidential pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently facing a corruption trial. According to Axios, Trump told Herzog that pardoning Netanyahu would make him a "national hero," framing the legal case as an unnecessary burden on a "wartime prime minister."

The former U.S. president expressed disbelief that Netanyahu’s trial was continuing amid ongoing conflict, reportedly saying, "In the middle of a war? Give me a break." Trump dismissed the charges against Netanyahu as "just wine and cigars," minimizing serious allegations of corruption that have dogged the Israeli leader for years.

Axios reports that Trump initiated the discussion about the pardon during an interview, signaling a shift from his previously aggressive stance toward Herzog to a more conciliatory approach. "I like the guy, Herzog," Trump said. "He will be a national hero if he gives Bibi a pardon. I will very much appreciate it."

Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the Prime Minister "frequently" communicates with Trump, though it denied reports of an imminent trip to Washington. This ongoing closeness between Trump and Netanyahu underscores the former president’s willingness to leverage his influence to shield political allies from legal consequences.

Trump’s push for a pardon fits a broader pattern of undermining judicial processes to reward loyalty and evade accountability. His own administration was marked by repeated attacks on the rule of law, including attempts to interfere in investigations and protect cronies. Now, even out of office, Trump continues to promote the same corrosive approach abroad.

The call for a pardon during a time of war not only threatens Israel’s democratic institutions but also signals a dangerous disregard for the principle that no one is above the law. Trump’s cavalier dismissal of corruption charges as mere socializing trivializes the serious allegations that have fueled public outrage and legal scrutiny.

As Netanyahu faces his trial, Trump’s interventionist rhetoric serves as a reminder that authoritarian impulses do not respect borders. The demand for accountability and transparency remains critical, whether in Washington or Jerusalem. Only by resisting these efforts to shield the powerful can democratic integrity be preserved.