Donald Trump calls for Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial to be cancelled – 1v1 Video Chat & LIve Streaming & Influencer Subscription

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you’ve seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

One-off amount

I already contribute

An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.

Investigates

Money Diaries

Daft.ie Property Magazine
Allianz Home Magazine
The 42 Sports Magazine
TG4 Entertainment Magazine
The Journal TV

Climate Crisis

Cost of Living
Road Safety

Newsletters

Temperature Check
Inside the Newsroom
The Journal Investigates

The Explainer

A deep dive into one big news story

Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture

have your say

Or create a free account to join the discussion

More Stories

Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office in January 2020.Alamy Stock Photo

Donald Trump calls for Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial to be cancelled

The Israeli prime minister is accused of accepting thousands worth of luxury goods from billionaires in exchange for assisting him with business interests.

6.50am, 26 Jun 2025

Share options

DONALD TRUMP HAS weighed in on ally Benjamin Netanyahu’s long-running corruption trial, calling for Israel’s “Great War Time Prime Minister” to be exonerated after the conflict with Iran.

Netanyahu’s trial has been delayed many times since it began in May 2020, with the Israeli leader requesting postponements due to the current conflict in Gaza and later conflict in Lebanon.

In a first case, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are accused of accepting more than $260,000 (€222,000) worth of luxury goods such as cigars, jewelry and champagne from billionaires in exchange for assisting him with personal and business interests.

Two other cases allege that Netanyahu attempted to negotiate more favourable coverage for himself and his family in two Israeli media outlets.

In December, Netanyahu became the first Israeli prime minister to take the stand as a criminal defendant at the same time as he faces an international arrest warrant for war crimes allegations. He has denied any wrongdoing, calling the accusations “absurd”.

In a long post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he was “shocked to hear” that Netanyahu has been summoned to court on Monday as part of the trial.

The US president, who himself was found guilty of 34 felony charges in a hush money case that he described as a “witch hunt”, used the same terminology to describe Netanyahu’s case.

He wrote: “Bibi and I just went through HELL together, fighting a very tough and brilliant longtime enemy of Israel, Iran, and Bibi could not have been better, sharper, or stronger in his LOVE for the incredible Holy Land.

“Such a WITCH HUNT, for a man who has given so much, is unthinkable to me,” he continued.

“Bibi Netanyahu’s trial should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero.”

The International Criminal Court has also issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu. He is accused of a number of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and creating conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza.

Trump’s lavish praise for Netanyahu came a day after the US leader angrily berated Israel in an expletive-filled rant for apparently preparing to attack Iran despite a ceasefire announced the previous night.

The unusual public display of anger at Israel saw Trump apparently trying to cajole his ally to call off warplanes in real time.

Moments later he said Israeli planes would “turn around and head home.”

Before the agreement of a ceasefire on Tuesday, Israel had bombed Iranian nuclear and military sites over the course of 12 days of war, while Iran launched waves of missiles at its regional arch foe in their deadliest-ever confrontation.

The US joined the fray in support of its ally, hitting two nuclear facilities with massive bunker-buster bombs over the weekend, while guided missiles from a submarine struck a third.

Trump announced the ceasefire shortly after Iran retaliated with strikes targeting a US base in Qatar that the president said had been fully defeated and forewarned.

“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,” Trump said in his social media post.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone…

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.

Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Support The Journal

View 17 comments

Send Tip or Correction

Embed this post

To embed this post, copy the code below on your site

Email “Donald Trump calls for Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial to be cancelled”.

Recipient’s Email

Feedback on “Donald Trump calls for Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial to be cancelled”.

Your Feedback

Your Email (optional)

Report a Comment

Please select the reason for reporting this comment.

Please give full details of the problem with the comment…

This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy

before taking part.