President Donald Trump on Thursday called on Israeli President Isaac Herzog to grant an immediate pardon to Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu, sharply criticizing Herzog and calling him a “disgrace” as he intensified his public support for Netanyahu during the prime minister’s ongoing corruption trial.
Herzog’s office responded by emphasizing that any decision regarding a presidential pardon will be made independently and without outside pressure.
Trump made the remarks during a phone interview with Axios as he continued a series of media appearances related to the joint U.S.–Israeli military campaign against Iran. During the conversation, he also said he believes he must personally play a role in determining Iran’s next leader and expressed backing for a Kurdish offensive against Iran.
Trump told Axios that Herzog should issue Netanyahu a pardon “today,” explaining that he believes the Israeli prime minister should be able to focus solely on the military campaign against the Iranian regime without being distracted by legal proceedings.
The president said he has raised the matter with Herzog repeatedly over the past year and claimed the Israeli president assured him on five separate occasions that Netanyahu would eventually receive a pardon. Trump added that he is unwilling to meet with Herzog until such a pardon is granted, though there have been no reports that Herzog has attempted to arrange a meeting with him.
Trump further alleged that Herzog has been using the possibility of a pardon as leverage over Netanyahu for roughly a year, despite the fact that Netanyahu only formally requested clemency in November. Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing in the three corruption cases against him, arguing that he has been framed by the police and state prosecutors.
Trump has publicly advocated for Netanyahu to receive a pardon since June 2025, when Israel and Iran were last engaged in direct conflict. The Prime Minister’s Office has denied that Netanyahu ever asked Trump to intervene on his behalf.
Thursday’s comments marked the second time in less than a month that Trump has criticized Herzog on the issue. In February, Trump said Herzog “should be ashamed of himself” for not granting a pardon to Netanyahu, who is currently standing trial on allegations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
Trump also raised the issue when he addressed the Knesset in October, dismissing the significance of gifts Netanyahu allegedly received in one of the cases. “Who cares about cigars and champagne?”
Following Trump’s latest remarks, the President’s Residence issued a statement that praised Trump’s support for Israel while underscoring that Herzog will ultimately make his decision based on legal considerations.
“President Herzog greatly respects and appreciates the tremendous contribution of Donald Trump to Israel’s security. He views him as the leader of the free world, a central ally of Israel, and particularly values his firm stance against Iran,” the statement said.
Herzog’s office also stressed that Israel “is a sovereign state governed by the rule of law,” noting that Netanyahu’s pardon request is currently being reviewed by the Justice Ministry, which will provide a legal recommendation in accordance with Israeli law.
“After the process is completed, the president will examine the request according to the law, the good of the country, and according to his conscience, without any influence from external or internal pressures of any kind,” his office added.
Netanyahu is currently facing trial in three separate corruption cases. In Case 1000 and Case 2000, he has been charged with fraud and breach of trust, while Case 4000 includes charges of bribery as well as fraud and breach of trust.
{Matzav.com}
Iran has delayed publicly naming a successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei amid concerns that whoever is chosen could become the next target in the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel.
According to Iranian officials, the hesitation stems from fears that identifying the next supreme leader could expose that individual to possible assassination attempts.
Ayatollah Khamenei was eliminated in American and Israeli strikes that also killed several senior military commanders and figures associated with Iran’s defense establishment. Despite those losses, the heads of Iran’s three branches of government—the presidency, judiciary, and parliament—remain alive.
Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s 56-year-old son, has emerged as one of the leading candidates to replace his father. However, concerns about his safety intensified after reports surfaced suggesting he could become the next face of Iran’s leadership.
Iranian officials said that once Mojtaba Khamenei’s name began circulating publicly as the preferred successor, the United States indicated that he would not be considered an acceptable choice and could also be targeted.
President Donald Trump dismissed the possibility of Mojtaba Khamenei assuming power.
“They are wasting their time,” Trump told Axios on Thursday, adding that the former Supreme Leader’s son is “a lightweight” and an “unacceptable” choice.
“I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy in Venezuela,” Trump said, referring to Delcy Rodríguez, who became interim leader after Washington captured the country’s leader, Nicolas Maduro.
Israel also signaled that any future Iranian leader would remain a potential military target. Defense Minister Yisroel Katz wrote in a social media post on Wednesday that whoever is chosen to replace Khamenei would be “an unequivocal target for elimination.”
{Matzav.com}