Trump Renews Call For Israel To Pardon Teflon Bibi, The “Wartime Prime Minister”

President Trump has renewed US pressure on some Israeli government decision-makers to grant a pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he’s still battling multiple corruption charges, at a moment he has ordered the armed forces to be engaged in several fronts, including in Lebanon. 

Trump told the Israeli outlet Kan News on Sunday, “Tell your president to pardon Bibi. He’s a wartime prime minister. They wouldn’t have Israel if it wasn’t for me and Bibi in that order. You want to have a PM that can focus on the war, not focus on nonsense.”

Trump interestingly tried to flip the script with this statement, at a moment some conservative ‘influencers’ have increasingly attacked the White House for falling too much under Israeli influence. 

But the US President is here saying the White House controls the narrative on Israel and its fate, not the other way around. And yet it also clearly affirms the airtight relationship, at a moment US naval forces are bogged down in trying to open back up the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump is directing his request to pardon Netanyahu to the only top official with the power to make it happen – Israel’s President Issac Herzog.

“I like the guy, Herzog,” Trump said in the fresh remarks. “He will be a national hero if he gives Bibi a pardon. I will very much appreciate it.” Trump has also long charged that this is a “witch hunt” by Bibi’s enemies.

Netanyahu has long been accused, even within Israel, of seeking to prolong Israel’s ‘multi-front’ wars in order to permanently delay the corruption trial and ensure his time in power is extended.

The trial focuses on three corruption cases - including charges of fraud and breach of trust, as well as charges of bribery.

The allegations range from illegally receiving expensive gifts based on political favors, to quid pro quo agreements with some Israeli media sources for more favorable coverage, to authorizing telecom-related regulatory decisions to benefit friends and allies.

In the meantime, Herzog says he does not plan to make a decision before ongoing negotiations with Netanyahu’s legal team have reached conclusion. An October election loss for Netanyahu’s Likud party means he could actually face jail time.

However, he’s long been called ‘Teflon Bibi’ for his ability to dodge major political bullets over the years and decades, while staying in power as the country’s longest serving prime minister.