Trump demands trial against Netanyahu be cancelled, hails him as a 'warrior' against Iran

US President Donald Trump has called for the corruption trial against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be cancelled. He hailed 'Bibi Nentanyahu' as a warrior against Iran and  asserted that the trial itself is a 'witch hunt.'

In a post on the social media platform Truth Social on Wednesday evening, Trump lauded his long-time ally, calling Netanyahu 'a warrior like no other in the history of Israel.'

He praised the Israeli leader's role during the recent conflict with Iran, stating, “We were fighting, literally, for the survival of Israel, and there is nobody in Israel’s history who fought harder or more competently than Bibi Netanyahu.”

Trump expressed shock that Netanyahu is still facing what he termed a “politically motivated” case, despite his significant contributions to the Israeli state, particularly in the recent military offensive against Iran.

“Despite all of this, I just learned that Bibi has been summoned to court on Monday for the continuation of this long-running case — he’s been going through this horror show since May 2020. Unheard of!” Trump wrote. “This is the first time a sitting Israeli Prime Minister has ever been on trial, over cigars, a Bugs Bunny doll, and numerous other unfair charges designed to do him great harm. Such a witch hunt, for a man who has given so much, is unthinkable to me. He deserves far better — and so does the State of Israel,” he wrote in his post.

Calling for the trial to be scrapped immediately, Trump added, “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.”

Netanyahu has been indicted on corruption and influence-peddling charges in three separate cases since 2020, which he has repeatedly denied.

He is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to stand trial while in office. Under Israeli law, a prime minister is not required to step down unless convicted and sentenced by the Supreme Court.

Netanyahu, in return, praised Trump’s unwavering support for Israel and hailed his decision to authorise airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities on June 22.