President Donald Trump announced Monday that a potential pardon for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be moving forward, after Trump said Israeli President Isaac Herzog indicated the process was underway.
The remarks came as Trump and Netanyahu appeared together during meetings in Florida, highlighting the close relationship between the two longtime allies.
Speaking to reporters, Trump strongly defended Netanyahu, describing him as a wartime leader who has guided Israel through years of conflict and instability.
“He’s a wartime prime minister. He’s a hero,” Trump said. “How do you not give a pardon?”
Trump added that he had spoken with Herzog and was told the matter was progressing.
Shortly after those comments, Herzog’s office issued a clarification, stating that the Israeli president had not spoken directly with Trump since a formal pardon request was submitted several weeks earlier. The statement noted that any decision would be handled according to Israel’s legal framework and established procedures.
Netanyahu is currently facing long-running charges dating back to a 2019 indictment, including allegations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust—charges he has consistently denied.
In his November 30 petition for clemency, Netanyahu argued that ongoing court proceedings interfere with his ability to govern during a time of national security challenges. He also stated that a pardon would serve Israel’s broader national interest.
The request came as Israel entered a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza, part of a broader Trump-backed strategy aimed at weakening Hamas, restoring stability, and expanding diplomatic ties across the Middle East.
Opponents of the pardon argue that granting clemency before a verdict would undermine the rule of law. Supporters counter that Israeli law allows the president to issue pardons and that extraordinary circumstances—including wartime leadership—justify exceptional action.
Trump has been a vocal supporter of Netanyahu throughout the process. In November, Trump sent a formal letter urging Herzog to grant clemency, describing the prosecution as politically motivated—language that resonates with many conservatives who see similar patterns in Trump’s own legal battles.
While no decision has yet been announced, Trump’s public support has placed renewed international attention on the case, raising the possibility of a historic and unprecedented pardon.