In a moment of political drama, U.S. President Donald Trump, during his address to the Israeli parliament (Knesset) in Jerusalem on Monday, urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog to grant a pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently on trial for corruption.
Making an unexpected detour from his prepared remarks, Trump publicly appealed to the Israeli head of state, stating: “Hey, I have an idea. Mr. President, why don’t you give him a pardon? Cigars and some champagne — who the hell cares?”
This comment directly referred to one of the three cases for which Netanyahu was indicted in 2019, which alleges the prime minister and his wife accepted luxury gifts, including nearly 700,000 shekels (approximately $210,000) worth of cigars and champagne, from wealthy businessmen in exchange for political favors.
The Israeli President holds the constitutional authority to issue pardons, although the role is largely ceremonial. Netanyahu is facing charges of fraud, bribery, and breach of trust, all of which he vehemently denies, labeling the legal proceedings a “left-wing witch-hunt” designed to remove a right-wing leader.
His long-running trial, which began in 2020, has seen frequent interruptions due to both the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing war and geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East.
Trump’s call for clemency came during a visit focused on celebrating the U.S.-brokered Gaza peace deal and the subsequent release of all remaining living Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
The American president’s comments on Netanyahu’s domestic legal troubles echo his previous statements from June, where he publicly called for the trial to be canceled.