Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday voiced strong opposition to the ongoing prosecution of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling it a politically motivated attack and drawing parallels to his own legal struggles.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump criticized Israel’s judicial proceedings, stating, “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.”
Trump’s remarks came after an Israeli court rejected Netanyahu’s request to delay his testimony in a long-running corruption trial. The court ruled that Netanyahu had not provided sufficient justification to defer the proceedings. His legal team had argued that the Israeli leader needed time to focus on pressing national security matters.
Netanyahu responded to Trump’s show of support via a message on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Thank you again… Together, we will make the Middle East Great Again!”
The Israeli Prime Minister is facing three separate cases of alleged corruption. In one, he and his wife, Sara Netanyahu, are accused of accepting over $260,000 in luxury gifts—including cigars, jewelry, and champagne—from wealthy benefactors in exchange for political favors. In two additional cases, Netanyahu is accused of attempting to secure more favorable media coverage from two Israeli outlets. He has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
Trump has repeatedly defended Netanyahu throughout the trial. Earlier in the week, he called the charges a “witch hunt,” echoing language he has used to describe his own legal troubles in the U.S.
On Saturday, Trump further asserted that prosecuting Netanyahu during this critical period would hinder key diplomatic efforts. “This travesty of ‘Justice’ will interfere with both Iran and Hamas negotiations,” he claimed, although no direct negotiations with Iran were publicly confirmed.
Trump also lauded Netanyahu as a “War Hero,” stressing that the trial could undermine Israel’s leadership as it navigates ongoing conflict with Hamas and broader regional tensions. As of now, 49 of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel are still believed to be in Gaza, with 27 presumed dead, according to the Israeli military.
Negotiations for the release of hostages and the recovery of bodies continue amid Israel’s sustained military campaign in Gaza, even after a temporary ceasefire with Iran earlier in the week.
Drawing a direct line between his own experiences and Netanyahu’s, Trump said, “It is a POLITICAL WITCH HUNT, very similar to the Witch Hunt that I was forced to endure.”
Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for the 2024 U.S. presidential election, was convicted in May 2024 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments to a porn star. He is also facing two federal indictments—one over alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, and another concerning classified documents.
The show of solidarity underscores the political and personal bond between the two leaders, each facing mounting legal and political pressure ahead of crucial national moments.
