U.S. President Donald Trump has fiercely criticized the ongoing corruption trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling it a “political witch hunt” and vowing that the United States “will not stand” for it.
In a post shared Saturday on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared, “The United States of America spends Billions of Dollars a year, far more than on any other Nation, protecting and supporting Israel. We are not going to stand for this.” His comments came a day after an Israeli court denied Netanyahu’s request to delay testimony in his ongoing trial, stating he failed to provide sufficient justification.
Netanyahu responded on X (formerly Twitter), thanking Trump and declaring, “Together, we… will make the Middle East Great Again!”
Netanyahu faces charges in three separate corruption cases. In one, he and his wife Sara are accused of accepting over $260,000 worth of luxury goods including cigars, champagne, and jewelry from wealthy associates in exchange for political favors. In the other two cases, Netanyahu is alleged to have sought favorable news coverage from major Israeli media outlets in return for regulatory or political benefits.
Despite the accusations, Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing and insists the charges are politically motivated. His legal team had sought to postpone court appearances, citing the prime minister’s focus on national security matters—especially amid Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza and tensions with Iran.
Trump, who has long considered Netanyahu a close ally, described him as a “War Hero” and said the court proceedings could hinder critical negotiations involving both Iran and Hamas. While Trump did not clarify what specific talks with Iran he was referencing, he suggested that the legal distractions could negatively affect Israel’s strategic focus.
Trump also drew parallels between Netanyahu’s legal battles and his own, saying, “It is a POLITICAL WITCH HUNT, very similar to the Witch Hunt that I was forced to endure.” The former president was convicted in May 2024 on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments.
As Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza and hostage negotiations remain delicate, the intersection of law and politics is once again drawing global attention.
