US President Donald Trump says Washington will “be involved” in helping Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with his ongoing corruption and war crimes cases, calling the charges “very unfair” during a CBS 60 Minutes interview.
Trump Pledges Support for Netanyahu Amid Legal Troubles
In a controversial statement likely to stir international debate, US President Donald Trump said his administration will “be involved” in helping Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with his ongoing legal challenges, including corruption and war crimes charges.
Speaking during an interview on CBS News’ 60 Minutes on Sunday, Trump defended Netanyahu, claiming the Israeli leader was being treated “very unfairly.”
“He’s under trial for some things, and I don’t think they treat him very well,” Trump said. “I think we’ll be involved in that to help him out a little bit, because I think it’s very unfair.”
Corruption Trials and ICC Charges
Netanyahu is currently facing multiple corruption cases — Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000 — which involve allegations of receiving lavish gifts, media manipulation, and providing business favors in exchange for positive coverage.
- Case 1000: Netanyahu and his wife allegedly accepted luxury gifts such as cigars and champagne from wealthy businessmen.
- Case 2000: Concerns alleged negotiations with newspaper publisher Arnon Mozes for favorable coverage.
- Case 4000: The most serious case, involving regulatory benefits to Bezeq owner Shaul Elovitch in exchange for positive media reporting via Walla News.
Netanyahu has denied all charges, calling them a “witch hunt” and a politically motivated attack. His trial, which began in May 2020, marks the first time a sitting Israeli leader has taken the stand as a criminal defendant.
In addition to domestic corruption cases, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for both Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in connection with war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel’s military operations in Gaza, where over 68,000 Palestinians — mostly women and children — have been killed since October 2023.
Trump Defends Ceasefire and Israel Policy
During the interview, Trump also reaffirmed his support for Israel and claimed the US-brokered 20-point ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was “not fragile” despite repeated violations by Israeli forces.
He said, “If I wanted to disarm Hamas, I would get them to disarm very quickly. They’ll be eliminated. They know that.”
When asked if he would pressure Netanyahu to recognize a Palestinian state, Trump replied:
“Yeah, he’s fine. He’s a wartime prime minister. I worked very well with him. I had to push him a little bit one way or the other.”
International Reaction Expected
Trump’s remarks are likely to draw criticism from both human rights advocates and legal experts, as direct US involvement in defending a foreign leader accused of corruption and war crimes could be seen as undermining judicial independence and international law.
Observers note that Trump’s open alignment with Netanyahu’s legal defence could further strain US relations with the International Criminal Court and intensify global scrutiny over Washington’s stance on Israel’s actions in Gaza.
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