On December 29, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort that Israeli President Isaac Herzog had informed him that a pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was imminent. Trump characterized Netanyahu as a 'wartime prime minister' and suggested that denying the pardon would be a challenging decision.

Netanyahu, who is currently facing a corruption trial, is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to be indicted on charges including bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. His legal troubles began in 2020, with allegations involving gifts from businessmen totaling approximately $211,832. Netanyahu has consistently denied all allegations against him.

However, Herzog's office quickly denied Trump's claims, clarifying that there had been no recent direct communication between Herzog and Trump regarding a pardon since Netanyahu's formal request was submitted on November 30. The office noted that discussions had occurred weeks earlier between a Trump representative and Herzog, but these did not involve any decisions about the pardon.

In a letter dated November 12, Trump had urged Herzog to consider granting clemency to Netanyahu, expressing respect for the Israeli justice system while labeling the prosecution as politically motivated. Trump's advocacy for Netanyahu's pardon has been consistent, including during his visit to Israel in October, where he praised Netanyahu's military actions against Iran and efforts to broker peace in Gaza.

The request for a pardon has faced significant criticism, with opponents arguing that granting clemency during an ongoing trial would undermine the rule of law. Under Israeli law, the president has the authority to issue pardons, but there is no precedent for doing so while legal proceedings are active.