"He is a Disgrace": Trump Unmasks the Israeli President Over Secret Pardon Promises
President Donald Trump has launched a blistering attack on Israeli President Isaac Herzog, claiming he was promised a pardon for Netanyahu five times and calling the delay a "disgrace" during the war.
In an explosive exclusive interview with News 12 on Thursday, President Donald Trump escalated his public feud with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, demanding an immediate pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump expressed deep frustration with the legal proceedings against the Prime Minister, arguing that Netanyahu must be allowed to focus entirely on the war with Iran without the distraction of domestic court cases. The American President took the unprecedented step of claiming that Herzog has personally promised him five times over the last year that a pardon was forthcoming, only to let the issue linger. While the President's Residence in Jerusalem has scrambled to deny these claims, Trump’s public "unmasking" of Herzog has created a diplomatic firestorm, highlighting a massive rift between the White House and the Israeli presidency during a critical phase of Operation Lion’s Roar.
The Five Promises of Isaac Herzog
During the telephone interview, President Trump was blunt in his assessment of the Israeli President’s conduct. "President Herzog needs to give Bibi a pardon today. I don’t want anything to bother Bibi except the war with Iran," Trump stated. He went on to call Herzog a "disgrace," claiming that the Israeli leader has been "holding this over Bibi’s head for a year." Trump revealed that in their private communications, Herzog supposedly gave multiple assurances that the legal matter would be resolved. "Tell him I’m exposing him. I’ve been talking to him about this for a year. He promised me five times he would give Bibi a pardon," Trump claimed, adding that he even threatened to refuse a meeting with Herzog if the pardon was not granted.
Public Pressure and the Knesset Scene
This is not the first time Trump has used his platform to lobby for Netanyahu’s legal immunity. During his recent visit to Israel, Trump famously turned to Herzog on the stage of the Knesset and asked, "Maybe you'll give Netanyahu a pardon?" Amid cheers from the audience, Trump dismissed the corruption charges, asking, "Who cares about cigars and champagne?" In later conversations with reporters, Trump admitted that the move was risky and the topic is "sour" in Israel, but maintained that the timing felt right. He has consistently argued that Herzog has the full authority to end the trial and that his refusal to do so is "shameful," especially given the existential threats Israel currently faces from the Iranian regime.
The Response from the President’s Residence
In Jerusalem, the President’s Residence issued a firm denial, attempting to protect the independence of the Israeli legal system. Official statements clarified that no direct conversation regarding the pardon has taken place between Herzog and Trump since the formal request was filed. Instead, they noted that Herzog’s staff spoke with a representative of the American President to explain the legal procedures. "The President will examine the request according to the law, the good of the country, and his personal conscience, and without any influence from external or internal pressures," the official response stated. Herzog himself addressed the issue at the Davos Economic Forum, acknowledging that while a solution to the trial is needed because it negatively affects the system, he will only act within the established rules of the sovereign State of Israel.
War Priorities and the Mar-a-Lago Connection
The tension stems back to December when Netanyahu visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago. At the time, Trump told the press that a pardon was "on the way" after his discussions with Herzog. Now, as the war against Iran reaches a boiling point, Trump’s patience has clearly run out. He views the continued legal pressure on Netanyahu as a strategic liability for the coalition. By calling Herzog a "disgrace" on national television, Trump is attempting to force a resolution that would leave Netanyahu legally cleared to manage the war effort. As the Prime Minister continues to coordinate with the U.S. military to dismantle Iranian infrastructure, the domestic debate over his legal future remains a volatile point of contention between Washington and Jerusalem.