Former U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply criticized the ongoing corruption trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling it a “political witch hunt” and warning that the United States “is not going to stand for this.” His comments have drawn both support and criticism amid ongoing geopolitical tensions involving Israel, Iran, and Hamas.
Netanyahu, who was indicted in 2019 on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. His trial, which began in 2020, involves three separate criminal cases and has faced repeated delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing regional conflicts. He is expected to return to court on Monday for cross-examination.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on June 28, Trump mocked the charges against Netanyahu, referencing allegations involving gifts like cigars and what he described sarcastically as a “Bugs Bunny Doll.” He claimed the proceedings were politically motivated and likened them to his own legal challenges in the United States.
“How is it possible that the Prime Minister of Israel can be forced to sit in a courtroom all day long, over NOTHING… It is a POLITICAL WITCH HUNT, very similar to the Witch Hunt that I was forced to endure,” Trump wrote.
Netanyahu responded with gratitude, thanking Trump in a post on X (formerly Twitter): “Together, we will make the Middle East Great Again!”
However, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid condemned Trump’s comments, urging him not to interfere in the judicial process of a sovereign nation. “The legal system in Israel is independent and must be respected,” Lapid said, as reported by the BBC.
Trump also argued that Netanyahu’s trial undermines ongoing regional negotiations, including those involving Iran and Hamas. The U.S. launched strikes on multiple Iranian nuclear facilities following Israel’s military campaign that began on June 13. The former president asserted that these efforts led to Iran agreeing to a ceasefire.
Trump claimed the trial “tarnishes” that achievement and further stated: “It was the United States of America that saved Israel, and now it is going to be the United States of America that saves Bibi Netanyahu.” He called for an end to what he described as a “travesty of justice.”
The remarks come at a sensitive moment for Israeli politics, as the country continues its military operations in Gaza following the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. Netanyahu remains a polarizing figure, balancing wartime leadership with a contentious legal battle that could define his political legacy.
