Trump: Herzog a ‘disgrace,’ must pardon Netanyahu now so PM can focus on Iran war

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Published :

06-03-2026 00:41|

Last Updated :

06-03-2026 00:49|

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Trump demands immediate pardon: U.S. President Donald Trump called 'Israeli' President Isaac Herzog a “disgrace” and insisted he pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately so Netanyahu can focus on the Iran conflict.
Trump claims repeated promises: Trump said Herzog promised him five times over the past year that he would grant Netanyahu a pardon, but has not acted.
Herzog emphasizes rule of law: Herzog’s office stated that 'Israel' is a sovereign state and the pardon request is being handled by the Justice Ministry according to legal procedures, with the president deciding independently.

U.S. President Donald Trump sharply criticized 'Israeli' President Isaac Herzog on Thursday, calling him a “disgrace” and demanding he immediately pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu so the 'Israeli' leader can focus on the ongoing war with Iran.

In a phone interview with Axios, Trump said Herzog should grant the pardon “today,” arguing that Netanyahu should not be distracted by his ongoing corruption trial while 'Israel' and the United States are conducting military operations against Iran.

“Every day I talk to Bibi about the war. I want him to focus on the war, and not on the court case,” Trump reportedly said. “I want the only pressure on Bibi to be the fighting against Iran.”

Trump also claimed he had urged Herzog for more than a year to grant the pardon and said the 'Israeli' president had promised him multiple times that he would do so. The U.S. president added that he would refuse to meet Herzog until the pardon is granted.

Herzog rejects pressure, stresses rule of law

Herzog’s office quickly pushed back against Trump’s remarks, saying any decision regarding a pardon would be made independently and according to 'Israeli' law.

In a statement, the president’s office praised Trump for his support of 'Israel’s' security but emphasized that the country’s institutions operate independently.

“Israel is a sovereign state governed by the rule of law,” the statement said, noting that Netanyahu’s request is currently being reviewed by the Justice Ministry, which will provide a legal opinion before the president considers the matter.

Herzog will ultimately examine the request “according to the law, the good of the country and his conscience,” the statement added, stressing that the decision will be made without “external or internal pressures.”

The president’s office also denied Trump’s claim that Herzog had promised to pardon Netanyahu.

Netanyahu’s pardon request under review

Netanyahu formally submitted a request for a presidential pardon in November as his corruption trial continues. The prime minister faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate cases.

The Justice Ministry’s pardons department is expected to deliver its recommendation in the coming days. So far, the offices of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and the state prosecutor have not yet submitted their positions.

Netanyahu’s office has repeatedly denied that the prime minister asked Trump to intervene publicly on the issue.

Trump’s repeated calls for a pardon

Trump has been urging 'Israeli' authorities to pardon Netanyahu since June 2025 and has raised the issue several times publicly.

In February, Trump said Herzog “should be ashamed of himself” for not granting the pardon. During a speech to the Knesset in October, he dismissed the allegations against Netanyahu, referring to the gifts at the center of one case and asking: “Who cares about cigars and champagne?”

The latest remarks mark Trump’s second public attack on Herzog in less than a month and come as U.S.–'Israeli' military operations against Iran continue to dominate regional politics.