Netanyahu Thanks Trump, But for What?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Thursday, June 26, 2025, expressed his gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump after Trump called for Netanyahu’s long-standing corruption trial to be canceled, labeling it a “ridiculous witch hunt” and a “horror show.”

In a statement posted on social media late Wednesday, Trump launched a passionate defense of his close ally, Netanyahu.

Trump praised him for his leadership during the recent short-lived war with Iran, which ended in a ceasefire earlier this week.

“Bibi and I just went through HELL together,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to Netanyahu by his widely used nickname.

“Bibi could not have been better, sharper, or stronger in his LOVE for the incredible Holy Land.”

Responding on X (formerly Twitter), Netanyahu thanked Trump for his “heartfelt support” and “incredible support for Israel and the Jewish people.”

He added, “I look forward to continue working with you to defeat our common enemies, liberate our hostages and quickly expand the circle of peace.”

The president’s intervention comes just days before Netanyahu is expected to appear in court on Monday as part of a corruption trial that has shadowed his premiership for years.

The charges against him are fraud, breach of trust, and accepting bribes across three separate cases.

These include allegations of receiving lavish gifts from wealthy businessmen in exchange for political favors and manipulating media regulations for more favorable news coverage.

Netanyahu has consistently denied wrongdoing, claiming he is the victim of a politically motivated legal campaign backed by a biased judiciary and hostile media.

Trump, who has faced a slew of legal troubles himself, including multiple criminal charges and convictions, appeared to draw parallels between his own legal woes and Netanyahu’s.

“It was the United States of America that saved Israel, and now it is going to be the United States of America that saves Bibi Netanyahu,” he wrote.

The gesture was welcomed by some in Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition.

Shlomo Karhi, Israel’s minister of communications, and culture and sport minister Miki Zohar praised Trump’s comments.

Karhi described Netanyahu’s trial as “unimaginable injustice and personal persecution.”

Far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir echoed the sentiment, claiming the charges were fabricated by Israel’s “deep state.”

Yet even within Netanyahu’s political base, there was disagreement over Trump’s bold declaration.

Simcha Rothman, a far-right lawmaker and chair of Israel’s parliamentary law and justice committee, acknowledged flaws in the legal process but pushed back on Trump’s comments.

“It’s not the role of the president of the United States to intervene in legal proceedings in the state of Israel,” he said.

The opposition was more direct in its criticism.

Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, thanked Trump for American support during the conflict with Iran but condemned his comments about Netanyahu’s legal troubles.

“No one is above the law,” he said.

“Interference in Israel’s judicial process is both inappropriate and concerning.”

Gilad Kariv of the Democrats party also emphasized the importance of legal independence, citing Jewish tradition that no individual, no matter how powerful—is exempt from the rule of law.

Trump’s post came just a day after he issued a rare criticism of Israel over its strikes on Iran following the ceasefire.

“I’m not happy with Israel,” he said Tuesday.

“They don’t know what the [expletive] they’re doing.”

That sharp contrast in tone added another layer of complexity to an already unpredictable geopolitical moment.

Netanyahu, now 75, became the first sitting Israeli prime minister to take the witness stand in his own criminal trial back in December.

His testimony began just weeks ago and has been punctuated by delays, largely due to ongoing security crises in Gaza and Lebanon.

On Thursday, Netanyahu’s lawyer Amit Hadad filed a request to postpone the prime minister’s testimony for another two weeks, citing “regional and global developments.”

While Trump has floated the idea of a pardon, the only person in Israel who could grant it is President Isaac Herzog.

However, Herzog has reportedly stated that such a move is “not currently on the table.”

With legal and political pressures mounting, Netanyahu’s next steps, and Trump’s continued involvement, could have wide-ranging implications for Israel’s legal system and its alliances abroad.

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