Donald Trump has intensified the debate over Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial, labeling it a political witch hunt while urging Israeli prosecutors to abandon the case.
At a Glance
- President Donald Trump has blasted the ongoing corruption trial of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu as a “politically motivated witch hunt.”
- In a series of social media posts, Trump urged Israeli authorities to “LET BIBI GO,” arguing he has a “BIG JOB TO DO.”
- Trump warned that the trial is a distraction from critical security issues like the threat from Iran.
- The intervention has sparked a backlash in Israel, with opposition leaders telling Trump not to interfere in their country’s legal process.
Trump’s Forceful Call to “LET BIBI GO”
In a forceful and highly unusual intervention into the legal affairs of a key ally, President Donald Trump has publicly called for an end to the long-running corruption trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu. In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump passionately defended the Israeli leader, adopting language reminiscent of his own legal battles.
“It is terrible what they are doing in Israel to Bibi Netanyahu,” Trump wrote. He blasted the four-year-old proceedings—in which Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust—as a “ridiculous witch hunt.” He concluded with a direct appeal to Israeli authorities: “LET BIBI GO; HE’S GOT A BIG JOB TO DO!”
A Distraction from National Security
President Trump argued that the trial is a dangerous distraction at a time when Netanyahu should be focused on critical national security threats. He specifically cited the need to manage negotiations with Gaza and to counter the nuclear ambitions of Iran.
"Netanyahu recruited [Trump], to help make the court cancel [the charges]. This is unprecedented."
US President Trump's intervention in Israeli PM Netanyahu's corruption trial is “unbelievable”, says Israeli journalist Gideon Levy.
🟥 Read analysis: https://t.co/n5DUOBLFqc pic.twitter.com/kLbHXg3EHE
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 30, 2025
“He is a War Hero, and a Prime Minister who did a fabulous job working with the United States to bring Great Success in getting rid of the dangerous Nuclear threat in Iran,” Trump continued, in a post reported by The Epoch Times.
A Warning Shot Over U.S. Aid
In his most pointed comment, Trump appeared to link the continuation of the trial to the massive financial support the U.S. provides to Israel. “The United States of America spends Billions of dollars a year, far more than on any other Nation, protecting and supporting Israel,” he wrote. “We are not going to stand for this.”
The posts came just days after the Jerusalem District Court agreed to postpone Netanyahu’s testimony for one week due to what it deemed were legitimate security concerns.
The intervention has created a political firestorm in Israel. While Netanyahu’s right-wing allies have welcomed Trump’s support, opposition leaders have condemned it as inappropriate foreign interference. According to The Times of Israel, opposition leader Yair Lapid stated that Trump “should not interfere in a legal process in an independent country.”
