In an extraordinary moment during his address to the Knesset on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

“I have an idea, Mr. President,” Trump said, turning toward Herzog in the visitors’ gallery. “Why don’t you give him a pardon? Cigars and champagne — who the hell cares about this?” he quipped, referring to one of the corruption cases alleging that Netanyahu accepted luxury gifts from wealthy businessmen.

The comment drew laughter and applause from some lawmakers, while others sat in visible discomfort. Netanyahu smiled faintly but did not respond.

Trump’s off-script appeal represented one of the most direct interventions by a foreign leader in Israel’s judicial process. Though the president has repeatedly voiced support for Netanyahu throughout his legal saga, this was the first time he publicly called for a presidential pardon — and did so from the Knesset podium.

“You are very popular because you know how to win,” Trump told Netanyahu, praising his leadership during the two-year war with Hamas and the more recent conflict with Iran. “You’ve brought your people through fire and come out stronger.”

Political analysts in Jerusalem said Trump’s remarks, while warmly received by Netanyahu’s loyalists, could complicate domestic dynamics as Israel approaches a likely election year.

Netanyahu, who has served as prime minister longer than any leader in Israel’s history, is currently on trial for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust across three separate cases. Prosecutors accuse him of accepting over $200,000 in gifts — including cigars, champagne, and jewelry — from wealthy associates, and of using his position to grant regulatory favors worth hundreds of millions to a media tycoon in exchange for favorable coverage.

The trial, now entering its fifth year, has been repeatedly delayed due to procedural motions, political upheavals, and war. Critics accuse Netanyahu of using his office to slow the proceedings, while supporters claim the charges are politically motivated.

While Trump’s remarks portrayed Netanyahu as a triumphant statesman, recent polling tells a more complicated story. Surveys over the summer found that majorities of Israelis believe Netanyahu should step down for his role in the intelligence and security failures that led to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.

Still, the recent ceasefire and release of all living hostages have boosted his approval ratings, providing the embattled prime minister with a rare political reprieve.

Trump has repeatedly drawn parallels between his own legal troubles and Netanyahu’s, arguing both are victims of politically motivated prosecutions. Following Israel’s 12-day war with Iran in June, Trump posted several messages on Truth Social demanding that Netanyahu’s trial be canceled.

“He’s being treated exactly like me,” Trump wrote at the time. “They’re trying to stop a strong leader who delivers results.”

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