"A Disgrace": Trump Blasts Herzog Over Refusal to Pardon Netanyahu

In an unprecedented intervention into the internal legal affairs of the State of Israel, President Donald Trump has publicly attacked President Isaac Herzog for his refusal to grant Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a full pardon. Speaking just one day after a high stakes meeting with Netanyahu at the White House, Trump told reporters that Herzog’s refusal to exercise his pardoning authority is a "disgrace" and suggested that the Israeli public should "shame" the President for his stance. This public outburst follows months of private lobbying by the Trump administration, including a formal letter sent to Herzog three months ago, in which Trump argued that Netanyahu’s attention should not be divided by a "corrupt" trial while he is leading a war for the survival of the Jewish state.

A Shameful Refusal

Trump’s comments were unusually personal, targeting the very nature of Herzog’s presidential role. "President Herzog refuses to give Netanyahu a pardon. He has the authority to do it. He doesn't want to do it. It’s shameful. He should give him a pardon," Trump stated during a White House press briefing. He went on to suggest that Herzog’s reluctance stems from a fear of losing political power. "I think a person should be ashamed of himself. The main authority the President of Israel has is the authority to grant pardons, and he is not doing it. He said he gave it five different times, but he doesn’t want to do it because, I guess, he is losing his power."

The American President further intensified his rhetoric by calling on the Israeli people to take action. "I think the people in Israel should really shame him. He is disgraceful. It’s a disgrace that he’s not giving it," Trump added, while reaffirming his own position as the "best friend Israel ever had." Trump argued that the legal cases against Netanyahu are "illegal" and that the Prime Minister’s wartime leadership has been "strong" and "excellent," making the focus on "cigars and champagne" irrelevant.

The Long-Running Pressure Campaign

This latest attack is part of a sustained effort by Trump to clear Netanyahu’s legal record. In a letter sent previously, Trump praised Netanyahu for his "steadfastness during the war" and his work on the Abraham Accords. He argued that the trial hinders Netanyahu’s ability to unite the country and fulfill his duties. During a visit to Israel in October, Trump even addressed Herzog directly in the Knesset, asking, "Who cares about cigars and champagne? Why don’t you give him a pardon?" Trump later admitted the comment was unscripted but said it "made sense" because Netanyahu is a "winner" and one of the best wartime leaders in history. For Trump, the trial remains a "distraction" that he believes should be ended immediately to allow Netanyahu to focus entirely on the existential threat from Iran.