Trump criticizes the president of Israel luck of pardon concerning Netanyahu

 

Trump criticizes the president of Israel luck of pardon concerning Netanyahu

On February 12, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Israeli President Isaac Herzog, calling him "disgraceful" and stating he should be "ashamed of himself" for not yet pardoning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his ongoing corruption trial.

 

Key Details of Trump's Criticism

Targeted Rebuke: Trump argued that Herzog’s primary power is the authority to grant pardons and that the Israeli people should "shame him" for refusing to do so.

Context: The comments were made during a White House event, just one day after Trump met with Netanyahu for their seventh meeting since Trump returned to office.

Justification: Trump praised Netanyahu as a "great wartime prime minister" and dismissed the corruption charges as a "shameful" trial.

Previous Claims: Trump previously claimed in late 2025 that Herzog had told him a pardon was "on its way," a claim that Herzog's office quickly disputed.

 

Official Responses from Israel

President Isaac Herzog: His office responded by emphasizing that Israel is a sovereign state governed by the rule of law. They clarified that Netanyahu’s pardon request is still undergoing a standard legal review at the Justice Ministry and that no decision has been made yet.

Prime Minister Netanyahu: Netanyahu's office issued a statement on February 15, 2026, distancing the premier from Trump's remarks, claiming they were Trump's "own initiative" and that Netanyahu had no prior knowledge of them.

Diplomatic Fallout: The exchange has been described as a rare, open spat between the U.S. and Israel, with some Israeli officials viewing Trump's comments as an insulting intervention in domestic affairs.