Netanyahu Thanks Trump for ‘Forthright’ Pardon Request, Calls Trial ‘Absurd’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu renewed his thanks to US President Donald Trump on Thursday, praising him for being “so forthright” in a letter urging President Isaac Herzog to pardon the premier. Netanyahu spoke in an interview published today on Australian broadcaster Erin Molan’s podcast.

Netanyahu said Trump “cuts to the chase” and repeated that his ongoing corruption trial is “absurd,” stressing that it burdens him during a critical period for Israel. His comments come a day after Trump formally asked Herzog to grant a full pardon.

“This trial is so absurd,” Netanyahu said. “I’ll think about it, but I’m very grateful to President Trump for being so forthright. He just cuts to the chase. This trial is absurd.”

He described balancing courtroom attendance with the pressures of wartime leadership. “I spent three days a week [in court] — can you imagine this, running a war and now seeking to expand the peace.” Netanyahu added that “it hurts both American and Israeli interests, which is also what he said. My time has to be free to pursue the things that will determine Israel’s future and the future of peace in the Middle East.”

Netanyahu expanded on that point, accusing prosecutors of pursuing a politicized case. “The mainstream media have stopped covering it because it’s so embarrassing to the prosecution. President Trump called it a politicized and unjust witch hunt, which it is. It hurts both American and Israeli interests. My time should be spent on the things that will determine Israel’s future. I appreciate that President Trump spoke the truth. As for my answer, yes, I’ll think about it.”

Netanyahu is charged with one count of bribery and three counts each of fraud and breach of trust across three cases. The trial began in 2020 and remains ongoing.

He emphasized that he would not seek a pardon if it required admitting guilt. “That’s not going to happen. Nobody suggests that that’s what I’ll do, and I certainly won’t do that.”

In his letter to Herzog, Trump urged him to “fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been a formidable and decisive wartime prime Minister, and is now leading Israel into a time of peace, which includes my continued work with key Middle East leaders to add many additional countries to the world-changing Abraham Accords.”

Netanyahu also addressed threats by New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani to arrest him if he visits the city. “Am I afraid of going there? Hell, no. Of course not.” He added that he would speak with Mamdani “if he educates himself,” saying, “It’s good to be a young leader, but it’s not good to be a young, uneducated leader… I think you should brush up on that. Then we might have a conversation.”